Lot 54
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Medium Bronze (8.83 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Simon, Prince of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), palm branch within wreath. Rev. 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo Hebrew), wide lyre with five strings. (Mildenberg 20 (O1/R1); TJC 223; Hendin 1377). Very rare - only seven specimens from this die combination cited by Mildenberg. Lovely earthen green patina. Estimate $1,250UP
Purchased privately from D. Hendin at the NYINC, December 1994.
The reverse type of this and the following two middle bronze denominations 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 accompa-niment 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 $3,304 |
