Catalog

Æ-Sestertius, 96, Rome; 28,02 g.

IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II DESIGN III P P laureate bust of Nerva to r.//FISCI IVDAICI CALVMNIA SVBLATA, S – C in field; palmtree with two date clusters. Hendin 1603a; RIC no. 72.

Fine/very fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 353.

Nerva’s main political objective, propagated on coins, was to create iustitia and Aequitas/justice and legal equality in the Roman Empire. The Latin word 'calumnia' means harrassment, especially judicial harrassment. Vespasian had decreed that all Jews, who until the destruction of the Jewish temple had paid two drachms/denarii to the temple in Jerusalem, henceforth had to pay this amount to the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus in Rome. When this tax was collected with the utmost severity during the reign of Domitian, the question arose who was a Jew within the meaning of this law. Especially since not a few ethnic Jews had converted to Christianity, the question came up whether these people also had to pay this tax. It is very obvious that Nerva took measures to settle these problems by decreeing that only the confession to Judaism and not ethnic affiliation obliged Jewish people to pay the 2 drachm-tax. By this legal reorganisation, the Jews, who continued to observe their ancestral religious traditions and paid the tax became members of an accepted religious community – in stark contrast to the Christians. Cf. M. Heemstra, The interpretation and wider context of Nerva’s Fiscus Judaicus Sestertius, in: D. M. Jacobson – N. Kokkinos (eds.), Judaea and Rome in Coins, 65 BCE – 135 CE. Papers Presented at the International Conference Hosted by Spink, 13th – 4th September 2010, London 2012, 187-201 (with the older scientific literature).

AV-Aureus, ca. 107, Rome; 7,21 g.

IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG COS VIIII (legend inwards) laureate bust of Vespasianus to r.//IMP CAES TRAIAN AVG GER DAC P P REST trophy, in front of it a kneeling Jewish prisoner of war whose hands were bound behind his back. Calicò -; Komnick 129, H. a. and pl. 26, H. a. (this coin illustrated); RIC -; Woytek, Die Reichsprägung des Kaisers Trajan, 528 no. 863 (this coin illustrated).

Extremely rare hybrid issue: One of two coins known to Woytek. Rough surfaces, good very fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 354.

Ex Sternberg 6, Zurich 1976, no. 475.

Vespasian’s self-staging as the victor over the rebellious Jews had so sustainably inscribed itself into the Romans’ collective cultural memory that under Trajan aurei alluding to the suppression of the Jewish riot were minted as a restitution issue.

Æ-Sestertius, ca. 134-138, Rome; 28,02 g.

HADRIANVS - AVG COS III P P; draped laureate bust of Hadrianus to r.//ADVENTVI AVGVSTI IVDAEAE, S - C in the exergue; the emperor Hadrian, clad with a toga, having raised his r. hand for the greeting, and standing at the l. side is looking to the r., where the personification of the province of Judaea, clad with a Graeco-Roman dress and accompanied by representatives of the Jewish people who hold palm fronds in their hands, is sacrificing incense over an altar with a blazing flame. Judaea holds a small incense box in her left hand. Hendin 1604a; RIC no. 890; P.L. Strack, Untersuchungen zur römischen Reichsprägung des zweiten Jahrhunderts II. Die Reichsprägung des Hadrian, Stuttgart 1933, 162 f.; J.M.C. Toynbee, The Hadrianic School. A Chapter in the History of Greek Art, Cambridge 1934, 117-121.

Very rare. Flan crack, corroded, nearly very fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 355.

Regardless of whether this coin was minted before the Bar Kokhba revolt or afterwards, it has nothing to do with the real circumstances of Hadrian’s visit in Judaea that took place in the early summer of 130 (cf. H. Halfmann, Itinera principum, Stuttgart 1986, 207; A.R. Birley, Hadrian. The restless emperor, London/New York 1997, 231 f.). All the Adventus coins minted in the last years of Hadrian’s reign show stereotypical welcoming ceremonies. They should evoke a reminiscence to Hadrian’s extensive travel activities in many parts of the Roman Empire. In the case of Judaea the coins gloss over the enormous tensions in the province, especially caused by Hadrian’s dislike, if not hatred of Jews and the Jews’ desire to rebuild the destroyed temple. 'The thoroughly Greek character of Judaea on these coins gives the impression that it had become a Hellenised province like any other in the east' (so Birley, l.c.). In the Bar Kokhba revolt Rome had to experience that this was a fatal error. In descriptions of these coins the small figures accompanying Judaea are called 'children'; they may be understood as Judaea’s children, but they are adults who are about to welcome Hadrian by swinging palm fronds, just like many Jews did when Jesus entered Jerusalem. Hadrian’s and Judaea’s sizes are based on their significance and not on their real proportions.

Æ-As, ca. 134-138, Rome; 14,94 g.

HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P draped bareheaded bust of Hadrian to r.//ADVENTVI AVG IVDAEAE, S - C in the exergue; the emperor Hadrian, clad with a toga, having raised his r. hand for the greeting, and standing at the l. side is looking to the l., where the personification of the province of Judaea, clad with a Graeco-Roman dress and accompanied by representatives of the Jewish people who hold palm fronds in their hands, is sacrificing incense over an altar with a blazing flame. Judaea holds a small incense box in her left hand. Hendin 1606; RIC no. 891; P.L. Strack, Untersuchungen zur römischen Reichsprägung des zweiten Jahrhunderts II. Die Reichsprägung des Hadrian, Stuttgart 1933, 162 f.; J.M.C. Toynbee, The Hadrianic School. A Chapter in the History of Greek Art, Cambridge 1934, 117-121.

An extremely rare coin. Fine Overbeck – Meshorer no. 356.

AR-Sela, year 1 (=132/3); 14 g.

YR-WŠ-LM (Jersualem) around the main facade of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem//ŠNT ’HT LG’LT YŠR’L (Year one of the redemption of Israel) around lulav and etrog. Hendin no. 1373; Meshorer, Treasury 244, no. 218 b; Mildenberg 123 no. 1 (O1/R1), 4 (ex El Fawa; this coin).

Very rare. Slightly corroded, very fine/close to extremely fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 358.

AR-Sela, year 1 (=132/3); 14,51 g.

YR-WŠ-LM (Jersualem) around the main facade of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem//ŠNT ’HT LG’LT YŠR’L (Year one of Israel’s redemption) around lulav and etrog. Hendin no. 1373; Meshorer, Treasury 244  no. 218a; Mildenberg 124 no. 3 (O1/R3), 20 (this coin).

Very rare. A well centered example with nice toning, on the obv. traces of a Syrian tetradrachm, close to extremely fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 357.

AR-Zuz, year 1 (=132/3); 3,32 g.

’L‘ZR HKWHN (Eleazar the priest) around a fluted jug with handle on the l., willow twig to the r.//ŠNT ’HT LG’LT YŠR’L (Year one of the redemption of Israel) bunch of grapes with small vine leaf. Hendin no. 1374; Meshorer, Treasury 244 f. no. 219; Mildenberg 172 no. 1 (O1/R1), 3 (ex El Fawar; this coin).

Very rare. Partially weakly struck, good very fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 359.

Æ-Large Bronze, year 1 (=132/3); 23,1 g.

ŠMW’N / NŠY’ / YŠR’L (Shimon, prince of Israel) within wreath//ŠNT ’HT LG’LT YŠR’L (year one of Israel's redemption) around amphora with two handles. Hendin no. 1376; Meshorer, Treasury 245 no. 220; Mildenberg 295 no. 4 (=O1/R4).

Very rare. Nice greenish-black patina, choice very fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 361.

Æ-Large Bronze, year 1 (=132/3); 21,23 g.

ŠMW’N / NŠY’ / YŠR’L (Shimon, prince of Israel) within wreath//ŠNT ’HT LG’LT YŠR’L (year one of Israel's redemption) around amphora with two handles. Hendin no. 1376; Meshorer, Treasury 245 no. 220; Mildenberg 297 no. 10 (O2/R7), 11 (this coin).

Very rare. An interesting coin since it has passed through so many important collections. Double strike shift on rev., some weaknesses in the centre of obv.; on both sides sandy deposits, very fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 360.

Ex Dowdy Coll., Superior, Beverly Hills 15.6.1976, no. 170 and Bonner Coll., Superior, Beverly Hills 16.6.1974, no. 527; Niggeler Coll., Leu-MMAG, Basel 3.12.1965, no. 504; Ars Classica 12, Geneva 1926, no. 2053; Curtius Coll., L. Hamburger, Frankfurt/Main 16.12.1907, no. 518.

Æ-Large Bronze, year 1 (=132/3); 17,76 g.

YRW / ŠLM (Jerusalem) within wreath//ŠNT ’HT LG’LT YŠR’L (year one of Israel's redemption) around amphora with two handles. Hendin no. 1375; Meshorer, Treasury 245 no. 221; Mildenberg 298 no. 12  (O5/R4), 5 (this coin).

Very rare. Clearly struck with an attractive brown-reddish patina, good very fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 362.

Æ-Smaller Middle Bronze, year 1 (=132/3); 11,02 g.

ŠM‘WN NŠY’ YŠR’L (Shimon prince of Israel) around wreath, within palm frond//ŠNT ’HT LG’LT YŠR’L (year one of Israel’s redemption) around an instrument with five strings. Hendin no. 1377; Meshorer, Treasury 246 no. 223b; Mildenberg 301 no. 20 (=O1/R1).

Very fine; struck on a small flan; nice patina. Overbeck – Meshorer no. 369.

Æ-Smaller Middle Bronze, year 1 (=132/3); 6,06 g.

ŠM‘WN NŠY’ YŠR’L (Shimon prince of Israel) around wreath, within palm frond//ŠNT ’HT LG’LT YŠR’L (year one of Israel’s redemption) around an instrument with four strings. Hendin no. 1377; Meshorer, Treasury 246 no. 223e; Mildenberg 301 no. 22 (=O1/R3) with photo of this coin.

Extremely rare; Mildenberg knew only this coin showing this specific die link. Partially weakly struck, otherwise extremely fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 371.

Æ-Smaller Middle Bronze, year 1 (=132/3); 9,02 g.

ŠM‘WN NŠY’ YŠR’L (Shimon prince of Israel) around wreath, within palm frond//ŠNT ’HT LG’LT YŠR’L (year one of Israel’s redemption) around an instrument with four strings. Hendin no. 1377; Meshorer, Treasury 246 no. 223f; Mildenberg 303 no. 25 (=O1/R6) with photo of this coin.

Very fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 372.

Æ-Smaller Middle Bronze, year 1 (=132/3); 13,31 g.

ŠM‘WN NŠY’ YŠR’L (Shimon prince of Israel) around wreath, within palm frond//ŠNT ’HT LG’LT YŠR’L (year one of Israel’s redemption) around an instrument with five strings. Hendin no. 1377; Meshorer, Treasury 246 no. 223c; Mildenberg 303 no. 26 (=O1/R7).

Clearly struck, very fine Overbeck – Meshorer no. 370.

Æ-Larger Middle Bronze, year 1 (=132/3); 14,09 g.

ŠM-‘WN / NŠ-Y’ / YŠR-’L (Simon, Prince of Israel) beneath a palm tree with two date clusters//ŠNT ’HT LG’LT YŠR’L (year one of Israel’s redemption) around a large vine leaf. Hendin no. 1378; Meshorer, Treasury 245 no. 222; Mildenberg 307 no. 36 (O1/R3), 3 (this coin; only three examples).

Very fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 367.

The inscription on the obv. is written with big and clumsy letters.

Æ-Larger Middle Bronze, year 1 (=132/3); 17,4 g.

ŠM‘ (Listen, Israel) beneath the r. side of a palm tree with two date clusters//ŠNT ’HT LG’LT YŠR’L (Year one of Israel’s redemption) around a large vine leaf. Hendin no. 1379; Meshorer, Treasury 245 no. 222; Mildenberg 307 no. 38.

Nearly very fine/fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 368.

Æ-Larger Middle Bronze, year 1 (=132/3); 11,55 g.

ŠM-‘WN / NŠ-Y’ / YŠR-’L (Simon, Prince of Israel) beneath a palm tree with two date clusters//ŠNT ’HT LG’LT YŠR’L (Year one of Israel’s redemption) around a large vine leaf. Hendin no. 1378; Meshorer, Treasury 245 no. 222; Mildenberg 308 no. 43 (O2/R9), 4 (this coin) with photo of this coin.

Some sandy deposits, good very fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 363.

On the obverse there are some remnants of the previous coin visible: KAICAP.

Æ-Larger Middle Bronze, year 1 (=132/3); 10,65 g.

ŠM-‘WN / NŠ-Y’ / YŠR-’L (Simon, Prince of Israel) beneath a palm tree with two date clusters//ŠNT ’HT LG’LT YŠR’L (Year one of Israel’s redemption) around a large vine leaf. Hendin no. 1378; Meshorer, Treasury 245 no. 222; Mildenberg 308 no. 44.3 (O2/R7; this coin).

A clearly struck coin on a small flan, overlaid by sandy deposits, very fine

Inv. 562.

Æ-Larger Middle Bronze, year 1 (=132/3); 10,34 g.

ŠM-‘WN / NŠ-Y’ / YŠ-R’L (Simon, Prince of Israel) beneath a palm tree with two date clusters//ŠNT ’HT LG’LT YŠR’L (Year one of Israel’s redemption) around a large vine leaf with tendrils. Hendin no. 1378; Meshorer, Treasury 245 no. 222; Mildenberg 308 no. 45 (O2/R10), 3 (this coin) with photo of this coin.

Extremely fine/very fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 364.