Goldberg Coins and Collectibles



Sale 98

The Pre-Long Beach Auction June 4-7, 2017


Ancient Judaean - The Bar Kokhba Revolt
 
 
Lot Photo Description Realized
Lot 1537
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Sela (13.47 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Jerusalem' (Paleo-Hebrew), tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; show bread table or Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side. Reverse: 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), lulav with etrog at left. Hendin 1373; Mildenberg 1 (O1/R1); TJC 218. Extremely Rare and important. Lovely antique grey tone. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $50,000 - UP
The Brody Family Collection; Ex Abramowitz Family Collection (Superior, 8 December 1993).
The Bar Kokhba War (132-135 CE) broke out when Hadrian decided to refound Jerusalem - still largely ruined from the disastrous Jewish Revolt (66-73 CE) - as the pagan city of Aelia Capitolina. Although Jewish discontent had already erupted into violence in the Diaspora during the reign of Trajan, the Jews of Judaea seem not to have risen up against the Romans until this threatened abomination against the site of the Temple and the surrounding Holy City. The leader of this new rebellion, which took the form of a bloody guerilla war, was a certain Simon bar Kokhba who had messianic pretensions and gained a reputation as a great warrior. Unfortunately, although Bar Kokhba managed to make Hadrian pay dearly for Aelia Capitolina, when the emperor assembled an army of six full legions to invade Judaea in 134 CE the rebellion was soon crushed. In punishment almost the entirety of Judaea was laid waste by the victorious Romans and the Jewish population destroyed or driven out. In order to fund the rebellion, Bar Kokhba and his supporters used what circulating coins they could find or capture from the Romans and restruck them with new types more suitable for their revolutionary purposes. The most remarkable and desirable of the new types were used for the silver sela overstruck primarily on Syrian and Phoenician tetradrachms. The obverse features a depiction of the façade of the Jerusalem Temple with an uncertain object inside, which has been variously interpreted as the show bread table or the Ark of the Covenant. It has been suggested that the Bar Kokhba rebels actually intended to rebuild the Temple, but the presence of either the show bread table or the Ark - items lost at the end of the Jewish Revolt or earlier - seems to imply that the image represents the idea of the Temple to rally support rather than any real edifice planned by the Bar Kokhba rebels. The reverse type looks back to the coinage of the Jewish Revolt in its depiction of the lulav and etrog associated with the Festival of Tabernacles.
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Realized
$88,125
Lot 1538
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.15 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Eleazar the priest' (Paleo-Hebrew), jug with handle; at right, willow branch. Rev. 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), grape bunch with branch and small leaf. Mildenberg 1 (O1/R1); TJC 219; Hendin 1374. Overstruck on a denarius of Trajan, with legend and portrait on host coin partially visible. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $10,000 - UP
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately from H. Kriendler, March 1990.
The silver zuzim of the Bar Kokhba War were regularly overstruck on Roman imperial denarii and provincial drachms from Cappadocia and Bostra that had been captured by the rebels from the invading Roman forces. The types seem to be influenced by the bronze pruthot of the earlier Jewish Revolt (66-73 CE) which featured an amphora and a vine leaf. The zuzim of the Bar Kokhba War mirror this typology by depicting a one-handled jug on the obverse and a grape bunch on the reverse, and those of the first year of the war (132/3 CE) are especially notable because they name "Eleazar the priest," a mysterious figure who disappears from the coins in the subsequent years of issue except for some mules. It is often suggested that he is none other than Rabbi Eleazar of Modein, an uncle of Simon bar Kokhba who seems to have lent his religious authority to the cause of war against the Romans. Later, after having begun doubting his actions and planning to surrender to the forces of Hadrian, Bar Kokhba reportedly kicked him to death.
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Realized
$12,925
Lot 1539
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Large Bronze (17.95 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Jerusalem' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath. Rev. 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), amphora with two handles. (Mildenberg 12 (O3/R4); TJC 221; Hendin 1375. Very Rare. Pleasing conserved with a light sandy green patina on a perfectly round flan. Very Fine. Estimate Value $7,000 - 8,000
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately at the NYINC, December 1993.
Like the silver zuz, the large bronze denomination of the first year (132/3 CE) of the Bar Kokhba War also takes its typological cues from earlier Jewish coinage. The wreathed paleo-Hebrew inscription naming Jerusalem, the coinage was almost certainly inspired by the ubiquitous prutot of the Hasmonean high priests and priest-kings. This hearkened back to the lost glory days of the late second and early first centuries BCE when Judaea was a free and powerful state that struck fear into the hearts of its many pagan neighbors, but it may also have been intended to make a direct connection between Simon bar Kokhba and the Hasmonean dynasty for the sake of legitimacy. It is probably no coincidence that both Bar Kokhba and the Hasmonaeans hailed from the town of Modein in the Judaean Shephelah. The amphora reverse is very similar to that found on prutot of the first failed Jewish Revolt (66-73 CE) and serves to connect the Bar Kokhba War to the previous tragic struggle of the Judaean Jews against Rome.
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Realized
$7,638
Lot 1540
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Large Bronze (19.52 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Simon, Prince of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath. Reverse: 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), amphora with two handles. Hendin 1376; Mildenberg 9.2 (O2/R4; this coin); TJC 220. Extremely Rare - only three specimens cited by Mildenberg, this being the one selected to illustrate the dies. Pleasing dark greenish-brown patina. Very Fine. Estimate Value $7,000 - 8,000
The Brody Family Collection; Ex Hess-Leu 24 (16 April 1964), 247.
This variety of the large bronze denomination of the first year (132/3 CE) of the Bar Kokhba War (132-135 CE) is notable for its obverse paleo-Hebrew legend which does not name Jerusalem within the wreath anymore, but rather Simon [bar Kokhba] as nasi (president) of Israel. Although nasi is sometimes translated as "prince" rather than "president," it almost certainly refers to Simon bar Kokhba's role as the leader of the Great Sanhedrin (the Jewish religious assembly that originally held court in the Jerusalem Temple before its destruction). The title of nasi was also held by the Hasmonaean High Priest John Hyrcanus I (134-104 BC), who engineered full autonomy for Judaea and who also struck coins featuring a wreathed legend on the obverse.
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Realized
$10,869
Lot 1541
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Medium Bronze (10.82 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Simon, Prince of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), palm branch within wreath. Reverse: 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), wide lyre with five strings. Hendin 1377; Mildenberg 23 (O1/R4); TJC 223. Rare this choice. Uniform dark green patina. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $1,000 - 1,300
The Brody Family Collection; Ex Lawson Collection (Superior, 3-6 June 1985), 2232.
The reverse type of this bronze denomination of the first year (132/3 CE) of the Bar Kokhba War is commonly identified as a nevel, a stringed instrument thought to have been similar to the Greek chelys. Although the kinnor - a related instrument similar to the Greek kithara - was prescribed as an instrument to be played in the Jerusalem Temple, the nevel had an even more important status in some rabbinical Jewish traditions. It was said that the world was actually sung into existence to the accompaniment of a perfect 22-stringed nevel. The reverberating notes of these strings subsequently became the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Considering the messianic flavor of the Bar Kokhba revolt one wonders whether the nevel type alludes to a new creation for Judaea free from Roman oppression. The palm branch on the obverse may perhaps celebrate the early victories of the Bar Kokhba rebels during "year one of the redemption of Israel."
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Realized
$1,704
Lot 1542
  Withdrawn Unsold
Lot 1543
  Withdrawn Unsold
Lot 1544
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Medium Bronze (10.37 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Simon, Prince of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), palm branch within wreath. Reverse: 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), wide lyre with five strings. Hendin 1377; Mildenberg 26 (O1/R7); TJC 223. Pleasing dark green patina. Very Fine. Estimate Value $600 - 700
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Unsold
Lot 1545
  Withdrawn Unsold
Lot 1546
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Medium Bronze (5.76 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Simon, Prince of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), palm branch within wreath. Reverse: 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), wide lyre with five strings. Hendin 1377; Mildenberg 28 (O1'/R9); TJC 223b. Pleasing dark green patina. Very Fine. Estimate Value $500 - 600
The Brody Family Collection; Ex Dr. Jonathan A. Herbst Collection (Superior, 8-9 December 1995).
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Realized
$881
Lot 1547
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Medium Bronze (12.31 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Simon, Prince of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates. Reverse: 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), vine leaf on tendril. Hendin 1378; Mildenberg 42 (O1/R9); TJC 222. Attractive desert-brown patina. Well centered with complete lettering visible. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $1,000 - UP
From the Dr. Patrick Tan Collection.
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Realized
$1,116
Lot 1548
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Medium Bronze (13.83 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Simon, Prince of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates. Reverse: 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), vine leaf on tendril. Hendin 1378; Mildenberg 37 (O1/R4); TJC 222. Pleasing uniform medium brown patina. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $500 - 600
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately from H. Kriendler, February 1994.
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Realized
$823
Lot 1549
  Withdrawn Unsold
Lot 1550
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Medium Bronze (8.64 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Simon, Prince of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates. Reverse: 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), vine leaf on tendril. Hendin 1378; Mildenberg 43 (O2/R9); TJC 222. Green patina. Very Fine. Estimate Value $400 - 500
The Brody Family Collection;.
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Realized
$646
Lot 1551
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Medium Bronze (8.89 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Simon, Prince of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates. Reverse: 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), vine leaf on tendril. Hendin 1378; Mildenberg 45 (O2/R10); TJC 222. Reddish-brown patina. Very Fine. Estimate Value $400 - 500
The Brody Family Collection;.
The vine leaf reverse of the middle bronze denomination of the first year (132/3 CE) of the Bar Kokhba War takes its inspiration from the prutot of the earlier failed Jewish Revolt (66-73 CE) that employed a similar type. In this way the Bar Kokhba War was presented as a continuation of the earlier fight and lent it legitimacy in historical terms. The palm tree was a symbol of Judaea going back at least to the time of the Jewish Revolt since it regularly appears on Roman coins in conjunction with Jewish captives under Vespasian and his successors. The seven branches consciously recall the seven arms of the menorah, perhaps the Jewish symbol par excellence. The palm tree was also prominent on coins of the Galileean city of Sepphoris, which became an important center of rabbinical Judaism after the Bar Kokhba War.
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Realized
$676
Lot 1552
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Medium Bronze (12.41 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Sma' (abbreviating Simon; Paleo-Hebrew), seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates. Reverse: 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), vine leaf on tendril. Hendin 1379; Mildenberg 47 (O2/R12); TJC 258. Dark green patina. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $500 - 600
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately, January 1987.
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Realized
$564
Lot 1553
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Small Bronze (5.76 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Eleazar the priest' (Paleo-Hebrew), seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates. Reverse: 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), bunch of grapes with branch and small leaf. Hendin 1380b; Mildenberg 148 (O1/R2); TJC 224a. Uniform brown patina. About Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $600 - 800
The Brody Family Collection; Ex Abraham Bromberg Collection, pt. I (Superior, 5 December 1991), 256.
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Realized
$1,175
Lot 1554
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Small Bronze (4.22 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Jerusalem' (Paleo-Hebrew), seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates. Reverse: 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), bunch of grapes with branch and small leaf. Hendin 1381; Mildenberg 151 (O1/R5); TJC 227. Very Rare. Brown patina with earthen highlights. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $1,500 - 2,000
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately from Superior, January 1989.
This small bronze denomination is linked to the silver sela and one series of large bronze denominations of the first year of the Bar Kokhba War through the use of a paleo-Hebrew legend naming Jerusalem instead of Simon bar Kokhba.
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Realized
$1,704
Lot 1555
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.63 g), 132-135 CE. Hybrid year 1/2 (132/3-133/4 CE). 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), bunch of grapes with branch and small leaf. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), wide lyre with three strings and four dots on sound box. Hendin 1383; Mildenberg 9 (O1/R7); TJC 236. Very Rare - only six examples cited by Mildenberg. Delicate golden toning adds to the appeal. Luster intact. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $10,000 - UP
The Brody Family Collection; Ex Jascha Heifetz Collection, pt. 2 (Superior, 9-10 December 1989), 2840.
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Realized
$14,688
Lot 1556
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.22 g), 132-135 CE. Hybrid year 1/2 (132/3-133/4 CE). 'Sma' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion at top and tendrils at bottom. Reverse: 'Eleazar the priest' (Paleo-Hebrew), fluted jug with handle on left; in right field, palm branch. Hendin 1384; Mildenberg 3 (O3/R1); TJC 235. Lightly toned. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $4,000 - 5,000
The Brody Family Collection; Ex NFA XXV (29 November 1990).
This hybrid zuz mules two obverse dies of different years of the Bar Kokhba War. The wreathed obverse die with the abbreviated name of Simon bar Kokhba belongs to the second year (132/3 CE) while the jug obverse die belongs to the first year and names Eleazar the priest. It has been suggested that Simon's name is abbreviated here (and on other coins) in such a way that it could also be read as the word shema ("hear"), the first word in Deuteronomy 6: 4 ("Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is One.") which is the centerpiece of morning and evening Jewish prayer known as the Shema Yisrael. Based on this view it has been further proposed that the Shema prayer served as a rallying cry for the Bar Kokhba rebels.
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Realized
$4,113
Lot 1557
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (2.95 g), 132-135 CE. Hybrid year 1/2 (132/3-133/4 CE). 'Sma' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion at top and tendrils at bottom. Reverse: 'Eleazar the priest' (Paleo-Hebrew), fluted jug with handle on left; in right field, palm branch. Hendin 1384; Mildenberg 6 (O3/R4); TJC 235. Profile of Trajan visible on the reverse. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $4,000 - 5,000
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately from E. Waddell, January 2001.
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Realized
$4,230
Lot 1558
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.42 g), 132-135 CE. Hybrid year 1/2 (132/3-133/4 CE). 'Sma' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion at top and tendrils at bottom. Reverse: 'Eleazar the priest' (Paleo-Hebrew), fluted jug with handle on left; in right field, palm branch. Hendin 1384; Mildenberg 6 (O3/R4); TJC 235. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $3,000 - 4,000
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased from E. Waddell online auction, January 2004.
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Realized
$3,525
Lot 1559
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Sela (11.77 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Jerusalem' (Paleo-Hebrew), tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; show bread table or Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side; above façade, + dividing legend. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), lulav with etrog at left. Hendin 1386; Mildenberg 11 (O2/R9); TJC 229. Rare - Mildenberg lists ten specimens. Toned. Very Fine. Estimate Value $5,000 - 6,000
The Brody Family Collection; Ex Leu 75 (25 October 1999), 1349.
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Realized
$8,813
Lot 1560
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Sela (14.62 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Jerusalem' (Paleo-Hebrew), tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; show bread table or Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side; above façade, +. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), lulav with etrog at left. Hendin 1387; Mildenberg 16 (O4/R10); TJC 230a. Extremely Rare - Mildenberg cites just one specimen. Lightly toned. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $6,000 - 7,000
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately, January 1998.
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Realized
$7,344
Lot 1561
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Sela (14.04 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Jerusalem' (Paleo-Hebrew), tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; show bread table or Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side; above façade, +. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), lulav with etrog at left. Hendin 1387a; Mildenberg 21 (O4/R14); TJC 230. Lightly toned. About Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $6,000 - 7,000
The Brody Family Collection;.
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Realized
$7,344
Lot 1562
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Sela (14.45 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Jerusalem' (Paleo-Hebrew), tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; show bread table or Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side; above façade, +. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), lulav with etrog at left. Hendin 1387a; Mildenberg 17 (O4/R11); TJC 230. Some tiny spots of deposit remain that are probably removable. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $5,000 - 6,000
The Brody Family Collection; Ex NFA XXXII (10 June 1993).
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Realized
$7,050
Lot 1563
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Sela (14.27 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Jerusalem' (Paleo-Hebrew), tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; show bread table or Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side; above façade, +. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), lulav with etrog at left. Hendin 1387a; Mildenberg 19 (O4/R13); TJC 230. Very Rare - only six specimens cited by Mildenberg. One of the best preserved specimens of these dies. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $5,000 - 6,000
The Brody Family Collection; Ex Abraham Bromberg Collection, pt. II (Superior, 10 December 1992), 401.
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Realized
$10,575
Lot 1564
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Sela (12.81 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Jerusalem' (Paleo-Hebrew), tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; show bread table or Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side; above façade, +. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), lulav with etrog at left. Hendin 1387a; Mildenberg 19 (O4/R13); TJC 230. Very Rare - Mildenberg cies just five specimens. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $5,000 - 6,000
The Brody Family Collection;.
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Realized
$7,050
Lot 1565
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Sela (14.49 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Simon' (Paleo-Hebrew), tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; show bread table or Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side; above façade, star. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), lulav with etrog at left. Hendin 1388; Mildenberg 32 (O6/R23); TJC 233. Very Rare - only five specimens cited by Mildenberg, this finer than the specimen used to illustrate the dies. Well struck on a nice wide flan with undertype of a partial portrait seen on the reverse. Lightly toned and with some luster still present. About Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $5,000 - 6,000
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately, January 2001.
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Realized
$12,925
Lot 1566
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Sela (11.56 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Simon' (Paleo-Hebrew), tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; show bread table or Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side; above façade, star. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), lulav with etrog at left. Hendin 1388; Mildenberg 35 (O8/R25); TJC 233. Lightly toned. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $5,000 - 6,000
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately from I. Goldberg, February 1996.
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Realized
$7,344
Lot 1567
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Sela (14.47 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Simon' (Paleo-Hebrew), tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; show bread table or Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side; above façade, star. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), lulav with etrog at left. Hendin 1388; Mildenberg 37 (O8'/R27); TJC 233. Toned. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $5,000 - 6,000
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately from I. Goldberg, April 1998.
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Realized
$6,463
Lot 1568
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Sela (14.27 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Simon' (Paleo-Hebrew), tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; show bread table or Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side; above façade, star. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), lulav with etrog at left. Hendin 1388; Mildenberg 38 (O8''/R27); TJC 233. Very Rare - only five specimens cited by Mildenberg. Lightly toned. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $5,000 - 6,000
The Brody Family Collection; Ex Sternberg XXXIII (18 September 1997), 205.
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Realized
$6,756
Lot 1569
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Sela (12.26 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Simon' (Paleo-Hebrew), tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; show bread table or Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side; above façade, star. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), lulav with etrog at left. Hendin 1388; Mildenberg 27 (O6/R18); TJC 233. Extremely Rare - only three specimens cited by Mildenberg. Pleasing toning. Very Fine. Estimate Value $4,000 - 5,000
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately from H. Kriendler, January 2004.
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Realized
$11,163
Lot 1570
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.12 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Sm' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion at top and tendrils at bottom. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), wide lyre with three strings and four dots on sound box. Hendin 1389; Mildenberg 13 (O4/R7'); TJC 238. Area of flatness on base of lyre. Nicely toned. About Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $3,000 - 3,500
The Brody Family Collection; Ex Dr. Jonathan A. Herbst Collection (Superior, 8-9 December 1995), 1266.
This zuz of the second year (133/4 CE) of the Bar Kokhba War reflects interesting iconographic and political developments as the threat of a massive Roman invasion of Judaea loomed. The wreathed paleo-Hebrew legend type naming Simon bar Kokhba has evolved from the preceding large bronzes of the first year (132/3 CE), which is notable because the zuzim of that year originally carried the name of Eleazar whom Simon may have killed in a fit of rage at his betrayal. The musical instrument on the reverse, probably the kinnor used in the Temple, also appeared previously on medium bronzes of the first year. It is unclear why these particular bronze-inspired types were employed for silver zuzim in the second year when they were still in use for large and medium bronze denominations, respectively.
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Realized
$3,290
Lot 1571
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.14 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Shim'' (abbreviating Shi'mon), in triangular form within a wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, medallion at top, and tendrils below. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel', palm branch. Hendin 1390; Mildeberg 14 (O4/R9); TJC 245. Extremely Rare - only two specimens recorded by Mildenberg. Lightly toned. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $2,500 - 3,000
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately, March 2007.
Mildenberg notes that the "completely straight palm branch on [reverse die] R9 is unique throughout the coinage."
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Realized
$1,704
Lot 1572
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.40 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Shim'' (abbreviating Shi'mon), in triangular form within a wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, medallion at top, and tendrils below. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel', palm branch. Hendin 1390; Mildeberg 17 (O3/R12); TJC 245. Overstruck on a rare denarius of Julia Titi with partial legends seen on the reverse. Nice old cabinet toning. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $2,000 - 2,500
The Brody Family Collection; Ex Jascha Heifetz Collection, pt. 2 (Superior, 9-10 December 1989).
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Realized
$1,821
Lot 1573
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.31 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Sm' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion at top and tendrils at bottom. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), fluted jug with handle on left; in right field, willow branch. Hendin 1391; Mildenberg 8 (O4/R6); TJC 250; Hendin 1391. Some of the undertype visible. Very Fine. Estimate Value $1,500 - 2,000
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately from D. Hendin, February 1990.
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Realized
$2,350
Lot 1574
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.10 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Sm' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion at top and tendrils at bottom. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), fluted jug with handle on left; in right field, willow branch. Hendin 1391; Mildenberg 31 (O5'/R19); TJC 250; Hendin 1391. Very Rare - only four specimens cited by Mildenberg. About Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $1,000 - 1,500
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately, February 2001.
Silver zuzim such as this this feature the name of Simon bar Kokhba in paleo-Hebrew surrounded by a wreath as on other apparently early zuzim issues of the second year (133/4 CE) of the Bar Kokhba War. However, the reverse type featuring a fluted jug and willow branch copies the design used for the obverse of zuzim struck in the first year (132/3 CE).
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Realized
$793
Lot 1575
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (2.87 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Sm' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion at top and tendrils at bottom. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), two trumpets upright. Hendin 1392; Mildenberg 26.3 (O5'/R17; this coin); TJC 243. Very Rare - Mildenberg cites just five specimens. Overtsruck on a Bostran drachm of Trajan. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $1,500 - 2,000
The Brody Family Collection; Ex Goldberg Auction, 2-6-04. Ex Bank Leu Dec. 1992; Ex El Fawar Hoard.
The musical element of religious service in the Jerusalem Temple, which emerged with the nevel middle bronze type of the first year (132/3 CE) of the Bar Kokhba War and continued on zuzim of the second year (133/4 CE) receives a new type on this zuz of the second year. The two trumpets depicted on the reverse refer to the two silver trumpets fashioned by Moses in the wilderness of Sinai and used by the Levite priests to call the people, to herald war, to announce the presence of the Ark of the Covenant, and to celebrate burnt and peace offerings.
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Realized
$4,230
Lot 1576
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.25 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Simon', bunch of grapes with leaf and tendril. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), wide lyre with three strings and four dots on sound box. Hendin 1393; Mildenberg 43 (O8/R25); TJC 240. Undertype partly visible. Pleasing old cabinet tone. Choice Very Fine. (PCGS # 1393) Estimate Value $1,500 - 2,000
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately from D. Hendin, February 1986.
This zuz of the second year (133/4 CE) of the Bar Kokhba War features a grape bunch obverse type derived from the similar reverse type used already for zuzim in the first year (132/3 CE).
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Realized
$3,290
Lot 1577
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.21 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Simon', bunch of grapes with leaf and tendril. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), upright palm branch. Hendin 1394; Mildenberg 41 (O8/R12''); TJC 248. Lustrous with delicate golden toning. Overstruck on a denariu of Trajan. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $1,500 - 2,000
The Brody Family Collection; Ex Jascha Heifetz Collection, pt. 2 (Superior, 9-10 December 1989), 2852.
The grape bunch of this zuz of the second year (133/4 CE) of the Bar Kokhba War derives from the reverse type of zuzim struck in the first year (132/3 CE). The willow branch reverse type may allude to the first year zuzim which featured a jug with a willow branch on the reverse.
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Realized
$1,234
Lot 1578
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.26 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Simon', bunch of grapes with leaf and tendril. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), upright palm branch. Hendin 1394; Mildenberg 42.8 (O8/R24; this coin); TJC 248. Lightly toned. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $1,500 - 2,000
The Brody Family Collection; Ex F. Knobloch FPL 32 (January 1968), 357.
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Realized
$1,528
Lot 1579
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.37 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Simon', bunch of grapes with leaf and tendril. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), upright palm branch. Hendin 1394; Mildenberg 49 (O10/R29); TJC 248. Attractively toned. Undertype legends partly visible on both sides. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $1,000 - 1,500
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately from Superior, October 1989.
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Realized
$1,087
Lot 1580
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (2.63 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Simon', bunch of grapes with leaf and tendril. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), fluted jug with handle on left; in right field, willow branch. Hendin 1395; Mildenberg 46 (O8/R26); TJC 253. Rare - only seven specimens cited by Mildenberg. Overstruck on a drachm of Trajan from Bostra. Lightly toned. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $700 - 800
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately from D. Hendin, January 2009.
Both the grape bunch and the jug with willow branch types of the zuzim of the second year (133/4 CE) of the Bar Kokhba War take their typological queue from the zuz issue of the first year (132/3 CE), but invert obverse and reverse types. Also notable is the removal of the paleo-Hebrew legend naming Eleazar the priest and its replacement with an inscription naming Simon bar Kokhba.
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Realized
$852
Lot 1581
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (2.85 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Simon', bunch of grapes with leaf and tendril. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), elongated lyre with three strings. Hendin 1396; Mildenberg 47.14 (O8/R27; this coin); TJC 242. The Mildenberg plate coin. Undertype of a Bostran drachm of Trajan visible on both sides. Lightly toned. Very Fine. Estimate Value $700 - 800
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately, April 1987.
The zuz of the second year (133/4 CE) of the Bar Kokhba War depict the kinnor, a lyre-like instrument played during worship in the Jerusalem Temple before its destruction. Indeed, the Mishna tells us that the minimum number of kinnorim to be played in the Temple was nine, but there was no maximum limit. This musical allusion to the religious services in the Temple is in keeping with the symbolic program of the Bar Kokhba War coinage, which depicts the façade of the Temple as well as other objects associated with religious observances and Jewish festivals.
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Realized
$881
Lot 1582
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (2.84 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Simon' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion at top and tendrils at bottom. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), upright palm branch. Cf. Hendin 1398; Mildenberg 60 (O14/R32); TJC 247. Very Rare year two variety. Lightly toned. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $3,000 - UP
The Brody Family Collection; Ex Leu 61 (17 May 1995), 92.
The reverse of this coin is highly unusual in that the legend begins on the left instead of at the top right. The reason for this is that the die was reengraved. What at first appears to be a die break across the reverse is in fact the palm branch from the earlier die-state, but when it was reengraved it was done at the 2 o'clock position, effectively rotating the legend to the left causing it to begin at around 10 o'clock. This seems to be a unique situation in the Bar Kokhba coinage.
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Realized
$4,230
Lot 1583
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.24 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Simon' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion at top and tendrils at bottom. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), elongated lyre with four strings. Cf. Hendin 1403 (three strings); Mildenberg 58 (O14/R30); TJC 241a. Rare - Mildenberg cites just six specimens, and this is finer than that chosen to illustrate the dies. Lustrous. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $1,000 - 1,300
The Brody Family Collection; Ex Goldberg 48 (16 September 2008), 1865.
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Realized
$1,880
Lot 1584
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Medium Bronze (9.81 g), 132-135 CE. Irregular issue. Undated, attributed to year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Sma' (Paleo-Hebrew), seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), vine leaf on tendril. Cf. Hendin 1408; cf. Mildenberg 167 (O6/R-; rev. die not recorded); cf. TJC 260a. Green patina. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $700 - 800
From the Dr. Patrick Tan Collection.
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Realized
$646
Lot 1585
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Medium Bronze (11.94 g), 132-135 CE. Irregular issue. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Sma' (abbreviating Simon; Paleo-Hebrew), seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates. Reverse: 'Year two of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), vine leaf on tendril. Cf. Hendin 1408; Mildenberg -; TJC 261. Very Rare - a year 2 irregular issue unrecorded in Mildenberg. Pale olive-green patina with earthen highlights. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $600 - 700
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately from E. Waddell, March 2004.
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Realized
$646
Lot 1586
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Medium Bronze (10.48 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Sma' (abbreviating Simon; Paleo-Hebrew), seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates. Reverse: 'Year two of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), vine leaf on tendril. Hendin 1408; Mildenberg 71 (O5/R35); TJC 260a. Overstruck on a bronze of Ascalon. Earthen dark olive-green patina. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $600 - 700
The Brody Family Collection; Purchased privately in Israel, October 2006.
The letter 'mem' on the obverse is not visible due to the overstriking.
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Realized
$588



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