Lot 1523
Judaea, The Jewish War. Æ Prutah (1.87 g), 66-70 CE. Irregular issue. Jerusalem, year 2 (67/8 CE). 'Year two' (Paleo-Hebrew; retrograde), amphora with broad rim and two handles. Reverse: 'The freedom of Zion' (Paleo-Hebrew; retrograde), vine leaf on small branch with tendril. Hendin 1360c; TJC 198; Hendin 1360b. Brown patina. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $250 - 300
From the Dr. Patrick Tan Collection.
Like many of the prutot struck for Judaea under the Roman administration and the Herodian and Hasmonean dynasties, the prutot of the Jewish War were struck on a large scale. Even so, due to shortages of small money, irregular issues, such as this coin, were manufactured. The irregular issues were, quite simply, irregular in their manufacture, their design, their legends, and their metallurgy. Irregular coins during the Jewish War were likely made at multiple locations. One thing we definitely know about these irregular coins is that archaeological evidence proves that they were used side-by-side and apparently without discrimination between the regular issues. In this respect they may be considered similar to the Hard Times tokens of the United States or the Condor tokens of England.
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| Realized $141 |
