By December 31, 2008 Read More →

Rare Coin from Year 5 of the Revolt, 70 CE

"Shekel of Israel"
 Rare_Coin_from_Year_5_of_the_Revolt_1 (1)

Rare Coin from Year 5 of the Revolt 1

Material- Silver

Denomination- Shekel

Size- 8/10 inch in diameter

 

Rare_Coin_from_Year_5_of_the_Revolt_2

Rare Coin from Year 5 of the Revolt 2

General Information-

As this rare Year 5 coin shows, the Jewish rebels were still minting coins even at this late stage of the rebellion. Yigael Yadin, who excavated Masada in the 1960s, found 17 Revolt coins in one hoard, including three Year 5 coins (only six other Year 5 coins had been previously found). Yadin’s finds were the first Revolt coins to be discovered in a controlled archaeological excavation.

The Year 5 coin shown here depicts on its front a chalice with the words “Shekel of Israel” and the letters shin and heh, abbreviations for “Year 5.” On the reverse are pomegranates surrounded by the words “Jerusalem the Holy.”

“Spending Your Way Through Jewish History,” BAR May-Jun 2003.

Posted in: Roman Period I

1 Comment on "Rare Coin from Year 5 of the Revolt, 70 CE"

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  1. Mel Wacks says:

    The picture you show in the article “Rare Coin from Year 5 of the Revolt, 70 CE” is actually a Year 3 Shekel–not a year 5 Shekel. You can check this out in my Handbook of Biblical Numismatics on http://www.amuseum.org/book/page14.html.