The New York Sale
Auction 42 9 Jan 2018
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Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Sela (13.69 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Jerusalem' (Paleo-Hebrew), tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; show bread table or Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side; above façade, +. rev. 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), lulav with etrog at left. Hendin 1387a; Mildenberg 21.1 (O4/R14; this coin); TJC 230. Well struck and well centered. Portions of the underlying type visible. A most impressive example. Toned. Removed from an NGC slab where graded Ch AU; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5. Estimated Value $4,000
From the Dr. Patrick Tan Collection
Ex Morton & Eden 10 (23 November 2004), lot 646;
Ex Allotte de la Fuÿe Collection (Florange & Ciani, 17 February 1925), 1105.
The obverse of this year 2 sela issue depicts the Jerusalem Temple but now features a + shape above the façade whereas this space was taken up by part of the paleo-Hebrew legend on the issues of the first year of the Bar Kokhba War. There is a great deal of controversy over whether this added symbol was intended to depict a star and advertise Simon bar Kokhba's supposed messianic ambitions. The patronymic of the rebel leader was actually bar Kosiba but he assumed the name bar Kokhba (literally "son of a star") as his nom de guerre because of its association with the messianic prophecy of Numbers 24:17.
From the Dr. Patrick Tan Collection
Ex Morton & Eden 10 (23 November 2004), lot 646;
Ex Allotte de la Fuÿe Collection (Florange & Ciani, 17 February 1925), 1105.
The obverse of this year 2 sela issue depicts the Jerusalem Temple but now features a + shape above the façade whereas this space was taken up by part of the paleo-Hebrew legend on the issues of the first year of the Bar Kokhba War. There is a great deal of controversy over whether this added symbol was intended to depict a star and advertise Simon bar Kokhba's supposed messianic ambitions. The patronymic of the rebel leader was actually bar Kosiba but he assumed the name bar Kokhba (literally "son of a star") as his nom de guerre because of its association with the messianic prophecy of Numbers 24:17.