One of the largest hoards of Byzantine gold coins ever found will be on view at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 33 Liberty Street through October 2003.

The American Numismatic Society in conjunction with the Israel Antiquities Authority is extending the exhibit - Archaeological News from the Holy Land: The Bet She'an Hoard. This special traveling exhibition, which is sponsored by the Pritzker Foundation, will be on view as part of the ANS Exhibit -Drachmas, Doubloons, and Dollars: The History of Money." The Bet She'an exhibition will close in October 2003.

During salvage excavations carried out in 1998 by Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists, a pot containing 751 Byzantine gold coins was uncovered under the floor of a residential house in a complex in the Jordan Valley, in northern Israel. The housing complex dates to the Umayyad period in the 7th century CE. The hoard of 7.5 pounds of gold is the largest find of gold ever in Israel. The gold coins are displayed in the context of other objects found in the excavations. Such hoards are not often recovered in archaeological excavations, which makes this find exceptional. It was previously shown at the Field Museum in Chicago and will also be on view in Fall 2003 at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

The hoard is being shown with an exhibition of 800 examples from the American Numismatic Society's noted collection of one million coins, bills and other forms of currency used worldwide and spanning three millennia of history.

The exhibition highlights the significance of money as political propaganda, artwork, and a reflection of social climate and economy. In addition to the Bet She'an Hoard from Israel the famed 1933 Double Eagle "the world's most valuable coin" is also on view.

Exhibition hours are 10:00am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 33 Liberty Street (wheelchair access provided from the Maiden Lane entrance). Admission is free. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED to see the exhibit. Please call the Federal Reserve Bank to make an appointment 212-720-6130.