Inspectors in Israel have seized hundreds of ancient and forged coins hidden inside a balcony planter at a private home in East Jerusalem, authorities said this week. Coins span the Hasmonean, Herodian, and Roman periodsExperts examining the seized items said the cache included Hasmonean, Herodian, and Roman-era coins, spanning several centuries of ancient history in the region. Some of the seized Hasmonean coins feature star or sunburst motifs, symbols widely used in Greek and Hellenistic art and coinage in various forms. Ancient coins, he explained, are especially valuable to researchers because they often carry inscriptions, dates, or symbols that help archaeologists determine when a site was used. Officials urged the public to avoid purchasing antiquities from unverified sources and to report suspected illegal activity to authorities.