The New York Sale
Auction 39 10 January 2017
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ANCIENT JEWISH COINS, BAR KOKHBA, Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Medium Bronze (17.23g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Simon, Prince of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates. Rev. 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), vine leaf on tendril. (Mildenberg 34a (O1/R6; this coin); TJC 222; Hendin 1378). This coin illustrated in Mildenberg and cited as one of the five best examples out of around fifty known. Brown patina with green encrustations. Extremely fine.
ex Abraham Bromberg Collection, Part I (Superior, 5 December 1991), lot 240;
ex NFA III (27 March 1976), lot 119;
ex Glendining's (5 March 1970), lot 174.
The vine leaf reverse of this and the following middle bronze denomination of the first year (132/3 CE) of the Bar Kokhba War may have been inspired by the prutot of the earlier failed Jewish Revolt (66-73 CE) that employed a similar type. In this way the Bar Kochba War was presented as a continuation of the earlier fight and lent it legitimacy in historical terms. The palm tree was a symbol of Judaea going back at least to the time of the Jewish Revolt since it regularly appears on Roman coins in conjunction with Jewish captives under Vespasian and his successors. The seven branches consciously recall the seven arms of the menorah, perhaps the Jewish symbol par excellence. The palm tree was also prominent on coins of the Galilean city of Sepphoris, which became an important center of rabinnic Judaism after the Bar Kokhba War.
Estimate: $ 1,000
ex Abraham Bromberg Collection, Part I (Superior, 5 December 1991), lot 240;
ex NFA III (27 March 1976), lot 119;
ex Glendining's (5 March 1970), lot 174.
The vine leaf reverse of this and the following middle bronze denomination of the first year (132/3 CE) of the Bar Kokhba War may have been inspired by the prutot of the earlier failed Jewish Revolt (66-73 CE) that employed a similar type. In this way the Bar Kochba War was presented as a continuation of the earlier fight and lent it legitimacy in historical terms. The palm tree was a symbol of Judaea going back at least to the time of the Jewish Revolt since it regularly appears on Roman coins in conjunction with Jewish captives under Vespasian and his successors. The seven branches consciously recall the seven arms of the menorah, perhaps the Jewish symbol par excellence. The palm tree was also prominent on coins of the Galilean city of Sepphoris, which became an important center of rabinnic Judaism after the Bar Kokhba War.
Estimate: $ 1,000