The Relationship Between Sepphoris and Rome

CNG 108, Lot: 471. Estimate $500. Sold for $525. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

JUDAEA, Sepphoris (Diocaesarea). Elagabalus. AD 218-222. Æ (24mm, 16.42 g, 6h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / ΔIO K I/[E]P I ACVΛ/ AVT Π Π Φ C/[I]EP BC K/Δ PΩ in five lines within wreath. Meshorer, Sepphoris p. 168, 4 var.; Sofaer 16 var.; Rosenberger 14 var.; BMC 28 var. (all with slightly different rev. legend). Fine, dark green patina. Very rare.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 291 (21 November 2012), lot 277.

Similar reverse types were struck under both Caracalla (198-217 CE) and Elagabalus (218-222 CE). Their reigns overlapped the life of Rabbi Yehudah Ha-nasi (b. 135, d. about 220 CE), who lived in Sepphoris and was chief redactor and editor of the Jewish oral law called the Mishnah.

Since the time of the Jewish War, when Sepphoris remained “pacifist” (according to Josephus), the city had an unusual relationship with Rome (Sepphoris was also called Irenopolis, or city of peace). This coin, conceived and authorized by the council of Sepphoris, carries an important reverse legend, clearly stating a special relationship between Rabbi Yehudah’s Sepphoris and Rome.

Meshorer reconstructed these highly abbreviated and slightly differing legends as “Diocaesarea the Holy, City of Shelter, Autonomous, Loyal (a treaty of) friendship and alliance with the Romans” (Meshorer, Y. “Sepphoris and Rome” in Mørkholm, O. and Waggoner, N. [eds.], Greek Numismatics and Archaeology: Essays in Honor of Margaret Thompson, Wettern, Belgium, p. 167). Kraay reconstructs it with a slight difference: “Diocaesarea the Holy, City of Shelter, Autonomous, loyal friends and allies with the Holy Council (i.e., the Senate) and the People of Rome” (Kraay, C.M. “Jewish Friends and Allies of Rome,” American Numismatic Society Museum Notes 25 [1980], pp. 56).

[Our thanks to David Hendin for providing this note.]