Archaeologists have unearthed a gold coin in Egypt dating back to the third century BCE that features the face of King Ptolemy III Euergetes.
Born on the Greek island of Kos in 284 BCE, he was said to be an ancestor of Cleopatra.
The 2,200-year-old coin was found at the San El-Hagar site in northern Egypt during an excavation of a building from the Greco-Roman period.
One side features King Ptolemy III Euergetes from the neck up, wearing a crown, and the other has a symbol of prosperity surrounded by the King’s name.
According to Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities, it is likely the coin was made between 221 to 205 BCE, during the reign of King Ptolemy IV to honour the memory of his father. As yet the value of the coin has not been revealed.
In addition to the coin, amongst the discoveries made by archaeologists were bronze tools, a stone fragment engraved with hieroglyphs, and pottery.
Excavation works at the site are continuing.
Source: neoskosmos.com