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Sale 46
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Lot 105
Rome. Hadrian, 117-138 AD. Gold Aureus (7.33 g), Rome mint, struck 130-138 AD. Draped bust of Hadrian right. Reverse: Cult statue of Jupiter Victor enthroned left, holding scepter and in outstretched hand, Victory, who holds wreath and palm and crowns him to right; IOVI VICTORI. RIC 251; C. 863. Finely centered, sharply struck and lustrous. Splendid high relief portrait. Scarce. NGC graded Uncirculated.
One of the puzzling features of Hadrian's reign is his relations with the Jews of Judaea. Hadrian was certainly one of the more intelligent, perhaps even brilliant, of emperors up to that time. While his historical achievements are well known, his personality, however, still remains rather enigmatic. Historians clearly see that Hadrian was an effective and capable statesman, but could also be a contradictory -- one might even say a distasteful person. More tellingly, one recent historian summed him up as a man who was "pleasant to meet" and "uncomfortable to know."
Early in Hadrian's reign he inaugurated, at least at first, an atmosphere of tolerance towards Judaea -- this to a people whose revolt of little more than 40 years prior had been harshly put down and their capital razed. He even talked of allowing the Jews to rebuild the Temple, a proposal that was met with hostile opposition from certain "Hellenists" in his circle. That Hadrian's attitude should suddenly change to one of outright hostility toward the Jews is odd to say the least. Perhaps these same "Hellenists," ardent admirers of Greek culture, played an important part in his about-face during the period of Hadrian's travels in the East. Several edicts affecting the Jewish peoples seem to have been issued around 130 or 131 AD. Among them, Hadrian had outlawed castration. He extended this to include circumcision, a practice used by both the Egyptians and Arabs, but of particular religious importance to the Jews. Later, the Egyptians were extended some exemptions to the law. However, no such favor was given to the Jews.
In addition, Israel's holy city of Jerusalem was to be re-founded as a Roman colony with Greek settlers. Furthermore, Hadrian planned on building a temple to Jupiter on the site of the venerated great Temple of the Jews, its second incarnation having stood there since the 5th century BC. Again, these actions seem rather out of character for Hadrian, who before had seemed so well inclined towards the Jews. Hadrian had even extended religious toleration towards the related Christians to a degree greater than any emperor had done before. This lack of regard would result in not only headaches and huge expenses for Hadrian, but with it troubles that are still affecting today's world, nearly two thousand years later.
By 132 AD, the Bar Kokhba broke out, the details of which are well known. This revolt must have been an embarrassment for Hadrian. Roman coins for the most part are decidedly propagandistic. The coins relating to Hadrian's travels throughout the empire being an obvious case in point. Virtually no notice is made of this rebellion in the coins struck by Hadrian. Looking at his "Adventus" and related coins for Judaea, one would certainly have no inkling that rebellion was afoot at the time.
Eventually, late in 135 AD, the Jewish forces collapsed. Perhaps the Hadrian of old would have been more forgiving towards the survivors, whose losses had been staggering. But not this time. Settlement and reprisals were harsh and extreme. Teaching of Mosaic Law was banned. Pagan temples and symbols were erected all over the land. Judaea itself was renamed Palestine, and Jerusalem, its capital, was now called Aelia Capitolina.
Estimated Value $15,000 - 18,000.
Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 44.
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