Fontanille Coins
Auction 81 7 January 2016
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Bar Kochba revolt, middle bronze struck year 132-133 C.E. (year 1 of the revolt) in Jerusalem (GBC 1379) 10.89 g.
A fascinating bronze of the 1st year of the revolt of Bar Kochba (132-135 CE), overstruck on a countermarked Syrian coin of Domitian (81-96 CE). This coin had a triple life: First, it was struck in Syria under Domitian in 81-83 CE, then, probably a few months or years later, it was countermarked by a Roman legion*. At last, 50 years after the original strike, the rebels of Bar Kochba re-used this coin by overstriking it with their own pair of dies. The head of Domitian is still well visible on the obverse like a watermark, as well as the letters SC**, a strong symbol of the Roman authority, on the reverse (I like the 'layout' of the letters: the paleo Hebrew letters Mem & Ayin abbreviating Shimon - the leader of the revolt - at left of the palm tree, and the Roman letters SC at right. The coins of Bar Kochba overstruck on Roman coins are common indeed, and in most cases, only a few traces of the underneath coin remain. But we have here an interesting and like-premonitory symbolism: The vine leaf and palm branch of the rebels could not erase the Roman emperor and Senate.
Incidentally, we have here an interesting example of what cleaning and restoration can do (picture at bottom): The countermark and letters SC were apparently unnoticed by the coin finder himself (picture at top).
* The probable animal visible on the countermark - with letters above? - might be the typical wild boar of the 10th Legion.
** SC means Senatus Consulto "By decree of the Senate".
Est. $1,500-2,000
A fascinating bronze of the 1st year of the revolt of Bar Kochba (132-135 CE), overstruck on a countermarked Syrian coin of Domitian (81-96 CE). This coin had a triple life: First, it was struck in Syria under Domitian in 81-83 CE, then, probably a few months or years later, it was countermarked by a Roman legion*. At last, 50 years after the original strike, the rebels of Bar Kochba re-used this coin by overstriking it with their own pair of dies. The head of Domitian is still well visible on the obverse like a watermark, as well as the letters SC**, a strong symbol of the Roman authority, on the reverse (I like the 'layout' of the letters: the paleo Hebrew letters Mem & Ayin abbreviating Shimon - the leader of the revolt - at left of the palm tree, and the Roman letters SC at right. The coins of Bar Kochba overstruck on Roman coins are common indeed, and in most cases, only a few traces of the underneath coin remain. But we have here an interesting and like-premonitory symbolism: The vine leaf and palm branch of the rebels could not erase the Roman emperor and Senate.
Incidentally, we have here an interesting example of what cleaning and restoration can do (picture at bottom): The countermark and letters SC were apparently unnoticed by the coin finder himself (picture at top).
* The probable animal visible on the countermark - with letters above? - might be the typical wild boar of the 10th Legion.
** SC means Senatus Consulto "By decree of the Senate".
Est. $1,500-2,000