Judaea, Jewish War. , 66–73 AD Jerusalem, c. 67-68 AD (Year 2)

Judaea, Jewish War. , 66–73 AD Jerusalem, c. 67-68 AD (Year 2)

$11,500.00

AR Shekel, 13.23g (23mm, 11h).

Omer cup; "Year 2" (in Hebrew) above, "Shekel of Israel" (in Hebrew) around / Sprig of three pomegranates; "Jerusalem the holy" (in Hebrew) around.

References: Deutsch 103 (O7/R98 - Deutsch only cites 1 example of this die pair), Meshorer 193; Hendin 6th, 6387

Grade: Currently NGC Encapsulated and graded Ch XF, Strike 4/5, Surface 3/5. Picture does reflect the coin in the slab.

gk2200

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Struck at Jerusalem during the second year of the Jewish War against Rome, this silver shekel weighs 13.23g and measures 23mm, with the dies aligned at 11h. The obverse depicts the omer cup used in Temple ritual, flanked by the date "Year 2" in Hebrew above and encircled by the legend "Shekel of Israel." The reverse bears a sprig of three pomegranates, a symbol closely tied to the Temple and its priesthood, surrounded by the proud declaration "Jerusalem the Holy." Struck at the height of the rebellion, when the insurgent government asserted its independence through a coinage deliberately modeled on the weight standard of the Tyrian shekel, this issue stands among the most historically resonant series in ancient Judaean numismatics - minted by a people in open revolt, proclaiming sovereignty even as Roman legions closed in around the city.

This example is die-paired O7/R98, a combination for which Deutsch cites only a single known specimen, underscoring its rarity within the Year 2 series.