The Fall of Jerusalem

Triton XXII, Lot: 584. Estimate $1000. Sold for $2000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Titus. As Caesar, AD 69-79. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 14.90 g, 12h). Dated “Holy Year” 3 (AD 70/1). AVTOKP TITOΣ KAIΣ OVECΠ, laureate bust right, wearing aegis / ETOYΣ Γ IEPO[Y] (date), eagle standing left on palm frond, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak; club to left. Prieur 140; McAlee 379; RPC II 1967. VF, toned, some porosity.

From the Michel Prieur Collection. Ex Dix Noonan Webb (29 September 2007), lot 2338.

The date “Holy Year” 3 coincides with the fall of Jerusalem in August of AD 70 to the Romans under Titus’ command. The portraits of Titus for this year are similar to those seen on “Judaea Capta” bronze coins, and it is has been suggested that these tetradrachms were struck at the same mint, probably Caesarea Maritima (see RPC II p. 276; McAlee p. 173; Butcher p. 72).