Ancient coins and Noah's ark

Several ancient coins tell us about Noah's ark

1. https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/7/5/2

"New evidence for the antiquity of the tradition associating Mt. Ararat in Turkey with the landing place of Noah’s Ark comes to us in the form of a unique coin on display at the Israel Museum. This large bronze medallion was struck 1700 years ago at Apameia Kibotos in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) near the mountains of Ararat where, it is said, Noah’s Ark came to rest after the flood.

This coin, depicting the events of the story of Noah’s Ark related in Genesis 6–8, is the only coin-type known to bear a Biblical scene.

Apameia Kibotos was a Phrygian city established by Antiochus I (280–261 B.C.) who named it after his mother, Apameia. At that time, there were at least two other cities in the region named Apameia, one in Bithynia (northern Turkey) and the other in Syria. The addition of the word kibotos, which means “ark” in Greek, differentiates this particular Apameia from the others."

2. https://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/numismatics/entry/noahs_ark_in/

 

"The above coin is one of a series of exceptional coins from ancient Apamea, Phrygia. On the obverse we have a Greek inscription naming the emperor as Philip I (AD 244-249), and a bust of the emperor looking to the right wearing a laurel crown, cloak and cuirass. Philip, commonly known as Philip the Arab, was an emperor of Syrian origin,and he is best remembered to history for his sympathetic view of Christianity, and potential conversion, as discussed by Christian writers such as Eusebius, Jerome and Orosius."


3. https://www.mintageworld.com/media/detail/74-Noah%E2%80%99s-Ark-Depicted-On-Ancient-Coin/

 

"Bronze coins of Apameia in Phrygia depict Noah’s Ark. This was probably due to a large, prosperous Jewish population that resided in the town. A mountain nearby had been identified as the one where the ark is supposed to have rested; hence, it is obvious that the story would be commemorated on local coins.

The coin depicts the ark, which is prominently labelled ‘NOE’ (Noah in Greek), which is in the form of a box barely big enough to hold Noah and his wife, who are depicted on the coin. The couple is seen observing a dove to the left, returning with a green olive branch as a sign that the flood has abated. 

Coins of this type were issued under Septimus Severus, Macrinus, Gordian III, Philip, and Trabonianus Gallus."





4. https://creation.com/roman-coin-ark
 

"As the coins weren’t minted until AD 192, some have considered that the primary influence responsible for their minting may have been a Christian one. One reason is that for Jews, “A strict interpretation of the numerous prohibitions against idolatry in Scripture precluded the depiction of ‘graven images’ and thus any human or animal form on coins.”

Adding to this possibility of a Christian influence is the fact that the only other similar image known from antiquity, i.e. depicting only Noah and his wife in the Ark, was produced by Christians in Roman catacombs.

The obverse of the coin (see images right) carries the image and name of the Emperor, which obviously changes depending on the time of minting, but the core features remain essentially the same. On the reverse side it depicts Noah and his wife inside the box-shaped Ark with waves lapping at the bottom of it. Noah’s name in Greek, ΝΩΕ(Nōe), can be clearly read in the middle of the Ark. On top of the Ark on the right is the raven, and on the top left is the dove with an olive branch in its mouth. On the left side of the coin Noah and his wife are again shown, standing outside the Ark on solid ground with their hands raised upwards to God in praise. This important feature shows that they recognized that God remembered them (Genesis 8:1), bringing them safely through the global Flood.

Of particular interest is the shape used for Noah’s Ark on the coin, which is clearly that of a chest—exactly what the Greek word kibōtos (κιβωτός) means. There is no element of the typical hydrodynamic boat shape or any tailfin added to the design that is so often seen now. The box/chest shape is very distinct in all the earliest representations of Noah’s Ark.

5. Noah's ark labelled on French Royal Jeton 1742.

 

6. GERMANY 1649 GOLD DUCAT “NOAH’S ARK” GERMANY, REGENSBURG “FREE CITY” DISPLAYING NOAH’S ARK sailing upon the Stormy Waters with a Dove Flying left below the Rainbow with a branch in its mouth and the Coat of Arms below. Certainly one of “THE” most beautiful Gold Coins in the World!!! This reverse of this Lustrous Golden Ducat is inscribed in eight lines within the wreath “Commemorating the PEACE of WESTPHALIA” and the end of the 30 YEARS’ WAR. The ARK is symbolic of Europe amid the tempestuous currents of the War. Under the Peace and Serenity of GOD (represented by the dove and rainbow), Europe is delivered unto safety, the terribly destructive conflict of the Thirty Years’ War finally being ended.