JERUSALEM, July 26 (Xinhua) -- A rare 2,500-year-old Cypriot coin was discovered on a beach in Ashdod, southern Israel, the Israel Antiquities Authority said on Sunday.

The silver-coated coin, known as a "siglos," weighs about 11 grams and bears images of a ram and a ram's head, along with ancient Cypriot inscriptions, the authority said in a statement.

It was minted in the ancient city of Salamis, Cyprus, dating back to the 5th century B.C. when the Persian Empire ruled over the island, the statement said.

Israeli experts noted that complete coins from this period are exceptionally rare and offer valuable insights into trade and maritime connections between Cyprus and the land of Israel thousands of years ago, according to the statement. ■