2016-07-23 Sat

An ancient and very rare Hebrew silver shekel with an estimate price of $32,000 will be offered at Winner’s auction house. The coin features the ancient Hebrew script on the obverse which reads “Israel shekel” around the wine goblet. The coin was issued in the fourth and final year of the Bar Kochba rebellion which is evident from the inscription “Shin 4”, an abbreviation for “Shana” (Hebrew for ‘year’). The reverse features a branch with three pomegranates along with the inscription “Holy Jerusalem”. Only a few dozens of them exist today and this particular coin is being sold under official license and with a certificate of authenticity.

Shimon Bar Kosiba led the Jewish Rebellion during the years 132-136 CE. Many Jews including Rabbi Akiva, a leading Torah scholar considered him to be a Messiah. Shimon Bar Kosiba won battles against the Romans. Roman Emperor Hadrian used force to crush the rebellion. The Second Temple was destructed and Israel was devastated during this process.

Minting coins was a way to fight for Jewish independence from the Roman economy. The coins displayed native Israeli themes like Jerusalem and the Temple to add a sentimental value to the revolt. 5-10,000 coins were minted by Bar Kochba minted during this period.