Defaced Judaea Capta Bronze

340, Lot: 297. Estimate $150. Sold for $320. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

JUDAEA, Judaea Capta. Titus. AD 79-81. Æ (23mm, 13.71 g, 12h). Caesarea Maritima mint. Laureate head right / Judaea seated in attitude of mourning at base of trophy; shield to right. Meshorer 384; Hendin 1449; RPC II 2313. Near VF, grayish-green patina with earthen highlights, heavy scratches over portrait.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 230 (24 March 2010), lot 245.

The deep cuts over the portrait, deliberately placed in a crosshatch pattern of parallel lines, were perhaps made by a local infuriated with the emperor who had captured the region, destroyed the temple, taken numerous slaves, and harshly imposed tax increases to recover the expenses of his campaign.