Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 90 2-3 February 2016
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Nerva. Æ Sestertius (26.11 g), AD 96-98. Rome, AD 96. IMP NERVA CAE[S AVG] P M TR P COS III P P, laureate head of Nerva right. Reverse: FISCI IVDAICI CALVMNIA SVBLATA, S C across field, palm tree with two large bunches of dates. RIC 82; BMC 105; BN 97; Hendin 1603 (this coin). A pleasing example of this famous issue with light to medium chocolate brown patina. Clear and full reverse legend. Very rare. Very Fine.
Nerva Sesterius Fiscus Judaicus
Marius Heemstra, in a recent article, challenges the earlier interpretation of the reverse inscription: FISCI IVDAICI CALVMNIA SVBLATA "The embarrassment (CALVMNIA) of the Jewish Tax (FISCI IVDAICI) is removed," i.e., that the Jewish tax, which had been introduced by Vespasian after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, was repealed by Nerva, in whole or in part. Heemstra also disagrees with the theory that that the CALVMNIA was "the circumcision test" described by Suetonius (Dom. 12.1-2).
According to the Roman historian Suetonius: "More than any other, the Fiscus Iudaicus was administered very severely; and to it were brought, or reported, those who either had lived the life of a Jew unprofessed, or concealing their origin, had not paid the tax imposed upon the people. I remember that it was of interest to me during my youth when a ninety-year-old man was brought before the procurator and a very crowded court to see whether he was circumcised."
Rather, Heemstra maintains that the tax was not repealed, but, rather, that the legend should be translated: "The removal of the wrongful accusation (CALVMNIA) of the Fiscus Judaicus (the imperial tax collection agency)."
What was the CALVMNIA? Meestra explains that before the "removal" of the "wrongful accusation," by Nerva, it is highly plausible that the charge of 'leading a Jewish life without publically acknowledging that fact' could have been levied against high-ranking Romans who could then have been victims of the Fiscus Judaicus, which would confiscate their wealth. Conviction could occur either on political grounds, instigated by the emperor himself (Domitian), or because any affiliation with Judaism, however small, could lead to an accusation of "atheism," which to Romans meant not recognizing their pagan gods.
Meestra points out that an important impact of the new law was that it necessitated a clarification in the definition of who was the taxpayer, and, thus, who was considered to be a Jew. Instead of "each one of the Jews" (Josephus), or, "those belonging to the Jewish gens" (Suetonius), the definition changed to "those Jews who continued to observe their ancestral customs" (Dio). In practice, these were the Jews that had been paying the tax in the first place.
By removing the CALVMNIA "the wrongful accusation," Nerva succeeded in transforming the definition of 'Jew' from an ethnic one into a religious one, which both the Romans and Jews adopted. Regardless, this coin represents Nerva's order not to abolish the tax itself but of the insulting method of collecting the Jewish tax.
See discussion in: Marius Heemstra, "The interpretation and Wider Context of Nerva's Fiscus Judaicus Sestertius, Judaea and Rome in Coins 65 BCE - 135 CE, London: Spink and Sons, 2010, 187-201.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000.
Ex Hendin plate coin.
Nerva Sesterius Fiscus Judaicus
Marius Heemstra, in a recent article, challenges the earlier interpretation of the reverse inscription: FISCI IVDAICI CALVMNIA SVBLATA "The embarrassment (CALVMNIA) of the Jewish Tax (FISCI IVDAICI) is removed," i.e., that the Jewish tax, which had been introduced by Vespasian after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, was repealed by Nerva, in whole or in part. Heemstra also disagrees with the theory that that the CALVMNIA was "the circumcision test" described by Suetonius (Dom. 12.1-2).
According to the Roman historian Suetonius: "More than any other, the Fiscus Iudaicus was administered very severely; and to it were brought, or reported, those who either had lived the life of a Jew unprofessed, or concealing their origin, had not paid the tax imposed upon the people. I remember that it was of interest to me during my youth when a ninety-year-old man was brought before the procurator and a very crowded court to see whether he was circumcised."
Rather, Heemstra maintains that the tax was not repealed, but, rather, that the legend should be translated: "The removal of the wrongful accusation (CALVMNIA) of the Fiscus Judaicus (the imperial tax collection agency)."
What was the CALVMNIA? Meestra explains that before the "removal" of the "wrongful accusation," by Nerva, it is highly plausible that the charge of 'leading a Jewish life without publically acknowledging that fact' could have been levied against high-ranking Romans who could then have been victims of the Fiscus Judaicus, which would confiscate their wealth. Conviction could occur either on political grounds, instigated by the emperor himself (Domitian), or because any affiliation with Judaism, however small, could lead to an accusation of "atheism," which to Romans meant not recognizing their pagan gods.
Meestra points out that an important impact of the new law was that it necessitated a clarification in the definition of who was the taxpayer, and, thus, who was considered to be a Jew. Instead of "each one of the Jews" (Josephus), or, "those belonging to the Jewish gens" (Suetonius), the definition changed to "those Jews who continued to observe their ancestral customs" (Dio). In practice, these were the Jews that had been paying the tax in the first place.
By removing the CALVMNIA "the wrongful accusation," Nerva succeeded in transforming the definition of 'Jew' from an ethnic one into a religious one, which both the Romans and Jews adopted. Regardless, this coin represents Nerva's order not to abolish the tax itself but of the insulting method of collecting the Jewish tax.
See discussion in: Marius Heemstra, "The interpretation and Wider Context of Nerva's Fiscus Judaicus Sestertius, Judaea and Rome in Coins 65 BCE - 135 CE, London: Spink and Sons, 2010, 187-201.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000.
Ex Hendin plate coin.