3768) Bronze coins of Cleopatra have been found at the Temple of Taposiris Magna in Egypt. Date/Year of Coins discovery: 2025:

3768) Bronze coins of Cleopatra have been found at the Temple of Taposiris Magna in Egypt. Date/Year of Coins discovery: 2025:

Dating from Egypt’s Ancient Past, a cache of 337 coins bearing Cleopatra VII’s image sheds new light on the age of the Temple of Taposiris Magna - and the enduring legacy of Egypt’s last pharaoh.

Bronze coins of Cleopatra have been found at the Temple of Taposiris Magna in Egypt.

Once again, a find of coins is helping to identify the age of an archaeological dig site. 

A recent discovery at the Temple of Taposiris Magna, west of Alexandria in Egypt, includes 337 coins on which Cleopatra VII is depicted.

Cleopatra VII (69–31 B.C.) is the famous Cleopatra of history, movies, and books. She was the final active ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt, Cyrene, and Cyprus, ruling between 51 and 30 B.C. 

Her father, Ptolemy XII, struggled to hold onto power as Rome pressed its influence over Egypt. Ptolemy XII was exiled and replaced by Cleopatra Tryphaena, who died soon after and was succeeded by Berenice IV.

Ptolemy XII regained the throne alongside his daughter Cleopatra VII as co-ruler in 55 B.C. with the help of Rome. 

Cleopatra’s brother, Ptolemy XIII, succeeded their father, who then refused to recognise Cleopatra VII as co-ruler. It was Julius Caesar who helped her regain the throne. Ptolemy XIII died in a failed rebellion in 47 B.C. and was replaced by a younger brother, Ptolemy XIV. Cleopatra later had this younger brother killed.

Cleopatra was a manipulative politician, which helped her to survive:

She had a son with Julius Caesar, Caesarion, who was known as Ptolemy XV Caesar. 

Ptolemy Philadelphus and twins Cleopatra Selene II and Alexander Helios were with later husband, Roman triumvir Marc Antony. 

Cleopatra’s downfall came during the struggle for control of the Roman Republic following the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C. 

The battle was fought between the fleet of Caesar’s nephew Octavian (later known as Augustus) and the joint fleet of Cleopatra and Marc Antony. Rather than being captured by Octavian, Cleopatra committed suicide. Caesarion, who was jointly ruling with his mother, was executed by his cousin Octavian.

Bronze coins discovered:

Bronze coins on which Cleopatra appears with her son Caesarion exist; however, from available photographs, the coins recently encountered at the Temple of Taposiris Magna appear to be heavily circulated bronze, likely AE25, coins on which Cleopatra appears on the Reverse, with the Eagle of Zeus on the Obverse. Coins issued for Cleopatra and Caesarion are known to have been struck in Cyprus and elsewhere.

Cleopatra continued to strike Ptolemaic-style silver tetradrachms in addition to bronze issues. 

The Alexandria Mint was in the same region as the ruins of the Temple of Taposiris. 

Alexandrian Mint bronze coins feature Zeus’ eagle facing left with a cornucopia while perched on Zeus’ thunderbolt on the Obverse. Cleopatra’s bust appears facing right on the Reverse. 

The Obverse legend reads, “BAΣIΛIΣΣHΣ KΛEOΠATPAΣ.”

The Temple of Taposiris Magna is dedicated to Osiris, the Egyptian god of death. Some archaeologists believe this is the burial site of Cleopatra VII. 

Previous excavations at the temple have yielded figurines, statues of Isis (a goddess that promised life after death), a mummy with a gold tongue, a cemetery with Greco-Roman style mummies, and additional coins. The recent find was located beneath the temple’s southern wall.

The coins were found with ceremonial pottery vessels, oil lamps, bronze statuettes, a limestone cosmetic container, a bronze ring dedicated to fertility goddess Hathor, and a scarab amulet on which is inscribed, “The justice of Ra has arisen.”

There has been discussion among participating archaeologists over whether a small marble statue of a woman wearing a royal diadem found at the site is meant to represent Cleopatra VII or a different royal woman. 

Among other finds accompanying this statue is a limestone bust of an unidentified king wearing the Nemes ceremonial headdress of a pharaoh. The coins and the ceramic fragments have been used to confirm the temple was built during the first century B.C.

There is a distinct style difference between contemporary Roman and Egyptian sculpture, others have suggested the figure could be of Cleopatra Selene II. Silver denarii of Cleopatra Selene II on the reverse with her husband King Juba II of Numidia and Mauretania are known but have not been found at the temple site.

Cleopatra VII likened herself as a link to or reincarnation of Isis. 

For this reason, some archaeologists think the Temple of Taposiris Magna could be her burial site. One thing is certain - The bronze coins are issues of this Cleopatra.