Fontanille Coins
Auction 82 8 February 2016
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Pontius Pilate, prutah struck year 29-30 C.E. in Jerusalem (GBC 1341) 2.47 g.
A unique and important holed coin of Pontius Pilate shown 'as found' (at top) and cleaned (at bottom). The holed Judaean coins are very rare, and because they were mounted in jewellery, most of them were chosen among the large and nicely illustrated types*. With their small size, their poor strike and their sober illustrations, it is not the case of the coins of Pontius Pilate. But in the eyes of someone, this coin was important enough to be holed twice (for a better stability) and used as a necklace or a bracelet. This coin has been cleaned but not restored to well show that the interior of the holes bear the same patina as the rest of the coin (they are not modern). Also, the picture at top shows that the holes were filled by encrustations when the coin was found.
In the Old City of Jerusalem, many coins of Pilate mounted in modem Jewellery are offered to the Christian pilgrims (some are fakes made to fit the jewellery setting), but it is the first time we have the evidence of an ancient one, contemporary to the time of Pontius Pilate himself.
* See the interesting following examples: ANTIPAS (www.menorahcoinproject.org/ant-19.htm), scroll down to pair O2-R2. JEWISH WAR (www.menorahcoinproject.org/fjr-13.htm), scroll down to pairs O3-R3 and O3-R9. BAR KOCHBA (www.menorahcoinproject.org/bkb-03.htm), scroll down to pair O5-R12)
Est. $600-700
A unique and important holed coin of Pontius Pilate shown 'as found' (at top) and cleaned (at bottom). The holed Judaean coins are very rare, and because they were mounted in jewellery, most of them were chosen among the large and nicely illustrated types*. With their small size, their poor strike and their sober illustrations, it is not the case of the coins of Pontius Pilate. But in the eyes of someone, this coin was important enough to be holed twice (for a better stability) and used as a necklace or a bracelet. This coin has been cleaned but not restored to well show that the interior of the holes bear the same patina as the rest of the coin (they are not modern). Also, the picture at top shows that the holes were filled by encrustations when the coin was found.
In the Old City of Jerusalem, many coins of Pilate mounted in modem Jewellery are offered to the Christian pilgrims (some are fakes made to fit the jewellery setting), but it is the first time we have the evidence of an ancient one, contemporary to the time of Pontius Pilate himself.
* See the interesting following examples: ANTIPAS (www.menorahcoinproject.org/ant-19.htm), scroll down to pair O2-R2. JEWISH WAR (www.menorahcoinproject.org/fjr-13.htm), scroll down to pairs O3-R3 and O3-R9. BAR KOCHBA (www.menorahcoinproject.org/bkb-03.htm), scroll down to pair O5-R12)
Est. $600-700