JUDAEA, Jewish War. 66-70 CE. AR Shekel (21mm, 13.19 g, 12h). Jerusalem mint. Dated year 5 ([August] 70 CE).

Triton XXV
Lot: 403. Estimated: $ 150 000

Greek, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 165 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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JUDAEA, Jewish War. 66-70 CE. AR Shekel (21mm, 13.19 g, 12h). Jerusalem mint. Dated year 5 ([August] 70 CE). Omer cup; “Y[ear] 5” (date, in Hebrew) above,“Shekel of Israel” (in Hebrew) around / Sprig of three pomegranates; “Jerusalem the holy” (in Hebrew) around. Deutsch 11 (O4/R8); Kadman 45; Meshorer 215; Hendin 6399; Bromberg 389; Shoshana I 20220 = Hunt I 116 (same dies); Sofaer –; Spaer –. Lightly toned, a little off center. Good VF. Very rare.

From the Dr. Jay M. Galst Collection, purchased from ILM, January 2007.

The storied shekels of the fifth year of the Jewish War are by far the rarest and most storied. Meshorer has written (TJC p. 130) that “[t]he amazing fact with regard to the coins of the fifth year is that they were struck then, in the last four months of the Jewish War against the Romans. At that time the striking of bronze coinage came to a complete halt. In those trying days, normal activities such as commerce and the consumption of goods no longer took place in Jerusalem, and there was thus no need to continue issuing these coins. On the other hand, silver shekels were still an important factor in the Holy City on account of their ritual value. Fulfillment of the precept of paying the half-shekel tribute to the Temple was all important, and the shekels continued to be minted even in the fifth year of the war.”

The final winners of all Triton XXV lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 11-12 January 2022. Triton XXV – Session Two – Greek Coinage (Part 2) through Roman Provincial Coinage will be held Tuesday afternoon, 11 January 2022 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 22.50% for all others.

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