FIRST REVOLT JEWISH WAR SHEKEL – YEAR 1 ISSUE EX MICHAEL BEALL AND DAVID HENDIN COLLECTIONS – CHOICE XF NGC GRADED JUDAEA COIN (Inv. 18543)

$21,000.00

FPL V, 40 (18543). JUDAEA. JEWISH WAR, 66-70 CE.
Silver shekel, 13.43 g, 22.6 mm. Issue of Jerusalem, dated year 1 (66/67 CE).
Obv. “Shekel of Israel, Year 1” (paleo-Hebrew), chalice with smooth rim, pellet on either side. Rev. “Jerusalem the Holy” (paleo-Hebrew), staff with three pomegranate buds.
Hendin 6383; Deutsch 24 (O8/R18); TJC 187.
Ex Michael Beall Collection, privately acquired from David Hendin via Herakles Numismatics, January 2016 (consignment document with Hendin collection pieces illustrated above); ex David Hendin Collection.
NGC graded CHOICE XF, Strike 5/5, Surface 4/5.

Throughout history, some of the most tumultuous events have been set in motion by much smaller incidents and by the responses to them. The Jewish War fought against Rome from 66-70 CE, and which had a deep impact on the development of Jewish culture is just such an example. In the summer of 66 CE, a Greek merchant in a dispute with his Jewish neighbors in Caesarea caused offense by purposely sacrificing birds before the local synagogue, thus rendering it ritually unclean. When the Jews complained to Gessius Florus, the Roman procurator of Judaea, in the hope of retribution and protection against future offenses, they found themselves placed under arrest. The news of these events resulted in the suspension of traditional prayers and sacrifices on behalf of the emperor at the Jerusalem Temple as a sign of protest against the Roman administration. Florus, then compounded the growing discontent by forcibly taking 17 talents of silver from the Temple treasury, claiming the exaction was made to cover unpaid taxes. Rioting broke out in Jerusalem almost immediately as Jewish factions violently clashed with the Romans and with each other over the question of full armed revolt against Rome.

Due to the incompetence of Florus, the Roman governor of Syria, C. Cestius Gallus was compelled to march against Judaea to restore order by force. He advanced with little difficulty, but an ambush at Beth Horon left his army in tatters and unable to press the siege. The Battle of Beth Horon is considered the worst defeat ever inflicted on the Roman army by a rebel force.

In the aftermath of this great victory, and hopeful that the expulsion of the Romans from Judaea was at hand, a Jewish provisional government was formed in Jerusalem under the leadership of the moderate Pharisee and Sadducee priestly factions. The members of this new, free political entity immediately set about preparing Judaea for the major Roman military response that was sure to follow. To this end, work began to improve the fortifications of Jerusalem and military commanders were placed in charge of raising and training forces to defend Judaea and Galilee.

To finance all of this and to advertise the break with Rome, the provisional government used the silver in the Temple’s treasury to strike new coins of shekel and half shekel denominations with types that conformed to Jewish law and legends that consciously looked back to the days of King David by using paleo-Hebrew script. The date also proclaimed the beginning of a new era of freedom, which, alas, was only destined to last for a few years.