Noah’s Ark on Roman Coins?
As many of you know, I was part of the documentary film Finding Noah, which follows a group of explorers scaling Mt. Ararat in Eastern Turkey in search of Noah's Ark. While cultures like Armenia have long embraced the biblical narrative as historical fact, did you know that the Romans once minted coins depicting Noah’s Ark?
Let’s examine a series of rare Roman coins depicting Noah’s Ark, minted between AD 192 and 253 in Apameia Kibotos (modern-day Dinar, Turkey). These coins are significant as the earliest known numismatic representations of a biblical scene. The city’s name, Kibotos (Greek for "chest" or "box"), reflects the shape of Noah’s Ark as depicted on the coins, suggesting a deliberate connection to the biblical story. The paper explores the historical and religious context of Apameia Kibotos, considering the influence of the city’s Jewish and Christian communities on the coin’s design
The earliest known coins were produced in the 7th century BC.1 Since then, the images featured on coins have represented various aspects of the issuing nation's identity and values, such as religion, politics, the head of state, and significant symbols or historical events.Imperial Rome produced a rare series of bronze coins featuring Noah’s Ark, which are considered the first known coins to depict a biblical scene. These coins, averaging about 3 cm in diameter, were minted over a period of 61 years (AD 192–253) during the reigns of five Roman emperors: Septimius Severus, Macrinus, Gordian III, Philip, and Trebonianus Gallus.2 As the coins were not minted until AD 192, some scholars have suggested that Christian influence may have played a role in their design.3
Origin and Significance of Apameia Kibotos
The coins were all minted in the Roman city of Apameia Kibotos (or Cibotus in Latin) in Asia Minor. Apameia was originally a Phrygian city, established by Antiochus I (280–261 BC), and is now the modern-day town of Dinar in Turkey. The name "Kibotos" (κιβωτός), meaning "chest" or "box" in Greek, was added to the city's name sometime before the turn of the 1st millennium BC.4 This may have originally referred to the city's wealth, as it had become a prosperous trading hub.
Interestingly, the Greek word kibōtos is also the term used to describe Noah’s Ark in the New Testament and the Septuagint.5 Genesis 8 describes how Noah’s Ark came to rest on the "mountains of Ararat," believed to be in the east of modern-day Turkey. Although Apameia Kibotos lies in the west of Turkey, a Jewish tradition arose claiming that a nearby mountain was the true resting place of the Ark. In Roman culture, antiquity was highly valued, and this connection to Noah’s Ark could have elevated the city's status. This connection may explain why the idea of placing Noah’s Ark (kibōtos) on the coin emerged—possibly drawing from both Jewish tradition and a local Phrygian flood legend.6
Jewish, Christian, or Roman Influence?
Apameia Kibotos had a significant Jewish population, almost as old as the city itself. Jewish soldiers and administrators were brought to Phrygia from Babylon shortly after the city's founding.7 Over the centuries, more Jews settled there, and by 62 BC, the Jewish community was wealthy enough that the Roman governor of Asia, Lucius Flaccus, seized around 50 kilograms of gold intended as tribute for the Temple in Jerusalem.8 However, direct Jewish influence over the coin’s imagery remains uncertain.
A key detail is the depiction of the Ark as a chest, which aligns exactly with the Greek word kibōtos. This suggests that the symbolism was deliberate and culturally significant.
There was also a Christian presence in the region from the first century AD. Jews from Phrygia were mentioned among those present at the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:10). The Apostle Paul visited the region to strengthen the Christian community (Acts 18:23), and the first recorded bishop of Apameia, Julianus, dates to AD 253.9
Scholars have proposed that the Christian community in Apameia may have influenced the minting of these coins, particularly since Jewish law generally prohibited the depiction of human or animal forms.10 Additionally, the only other known ancient image depicting Noah and his wife in the Ark comes from Christian catacombs in Rome.11 Thus, the Christian community may have been the driving force behind the decision to feature Noah’s Ark on the coin.
Design and Symbolism of the Coin
The obverse side of the coin features the image and name of the reigning emperor, which changed depending on the time of minting. The reverse side depicts Noah and his wife inside a chest-shaped Ark, with waves lapping at its base. The name ΝΩΕ (Nōe) is inscribed in Greek inside the Ark.
On top of the Ark, a raven is shown on the right side, while a dove holding an olive branch appears on the left—recalling the events of Genesis 8. To the left of the Ark, Noah and his wife are depicted standing on solid ground with their hands raised toward heaven in praise, reflecting the moment when God remembered Noah and brought him safely through the Flood (Genesis 8:1).
Of particular note is the box-shaped Ark itself, which conforms to the Greek word kibōtos and early depictions of the Ark rather than modernized boat-like forms. This chest-like design aligns with early Christian artistic traditions.12
Noah’s Ark in the Catacombs
The only other ancient image of Noah and his wife in the Ark comes from the Christian catacombs in Rome. The fourth-century Via Latina catacomb, rediscovered in 1955, contains a highly degraded ceiling painting showing Noah and his wife inside a box-like Ark.13 The figure above them, possibly representing the weather, appears to be pouring water on them from the "windows of heaven."
Later Coins Depicting Noah’s Ark
Since the Roman coin, Noah’s Ark has appeared on several notable modern coins and medals:
1649 – A golden ducat commemorating the end of the Thirty Years' War (Regensburg, Germany)
1742 – French Royal token
1970 – Franklin Mint, Thomason Medallic Bible
1975 – Vatican City 10-lire coin
1998 – Israeli commemorative two-shekel coin
Modern Era – Silver bullion 500-dram Armenian coin
These later depictions of Noah’s Ark continue to reflect the enduring influence and symbolic power of the biblical narrative.
What’s on the coin?
The American Israel Numismatic Association
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.
A selection of the Roman 'Noah's Ark' coins
The American Israel Numismatic Association
The Ark on later coins
Since the Roman coin, Noah’s Ark has featured on a number of modern coins and medals such as:
1649 golden ducat, commemorating the end of the Thirty Years’ War, by the city of Regensburg (Germany) Credit: parategoldcoin.com
1742 French Royal Token
1970 Franklin Mint, Thomason Medallic Bible
1975 Vatican City 10-lire coin
1998 Israel commemorative two-shekel coin
Silver bullion 500-dram Armenian coin
If you liked this article, you will love these:
My travel journal, “The Quest for Noah’s Ark”
My interview on Coast to Coast AM “The Search for Noah’s Ark”
The behind the scenes footage from the film Finding Noah called “The Quest for Noah’s Ark Film”. See the multimedia presentation of the “Story of Noah’s Ark” or the “Ed Davis Interview” who personally saw Noah’s Ark in the 1940s.
Sign up for our Ancient Pathways Patreon site for loads of free content and for our members exclusive content from our new Animals Encased in Stone Library to Joe Taylor Radio: Giants, Fossils, Dinosaurs & Mammoths. Ohh, & Bigfoot..
Footnotes
Kraay, C.M., Archaic and Classical Greek Coins, University of California Press, 1976.
Mattingly, H., Roman Imperial Coinage, Vol. IV, Spink & Son, 1938.
Jones, A.H.M., The Decline of the Ancient World, Routledge, 1966, p. 122.
Ramsay, W.M., The Historical Geography of Asia Minor, Cambridge University Press, 1890.
Septuagint, Genesis 6:14.
Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book I, Chapter 3.
Tacitus, Histories, V.3.
Cicero, Pro Flacco, 28.
Eusebius, Church History, Book VI, Chapter 19.
Exodus 20:4–5.
Kötzsche-Breitenbruch, L., Die neue Katakombe an der Via Latina in Rom, Aschendorffsche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Münster, 1976.
Tronzo, W., The Via Latina Catacomb, Penn State University Press, 1986.
The Catacombs (digitized) are viewable on Google Maps.
