The New York Sale
Auction 42 9 Jan 2018
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Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Medium Bronze (10.94 g), 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. Hendin 1378; Mildenberg 45 (O2/R10); TJC 222. Nice earthen-brown patina. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $1,000
From the Dr. Patrick Tan Collection.
The vine leaf reverse of this middle bronze denomination of the first year of the Bar Kokhba War takes its inspiration from the prutot of the earlier failed Jewish Revolt (66-73 CE) that employed a similar type. In this way the Bar Kokhba 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 War 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 Galileean city of Sepphoris, which became an important center of rabbinical Judaism after the Bar Kokhba War.
From the Dr. Patrick Tan Collection.
The vine leaf reverse of this middle bronze denomination of the first year of the Bar Kokhba War takes its inspiration from the prutot of the earlier failed Jewish Revolt (66-73 CE) that employed a similar type. In this way the Bar Kokhba 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 War 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 Galileean city of Sepphoris, which became an important center of rabbinical Judaism after the Bar Kokhba War.