First Revolt Coinage

The study deals with the coins issued by the Jews during the first revolt against Rome. The main literary source describing the events is the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who was also one of the leaders of the revolt. The coins were minted during the first five years, from the outbreak of the war in 66 c.e., till the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 c.e. The revolt continued till the capture of the last stronghold of Masada in 73 c.e., but no coins were found bearing a date later than the fifth year. This may indicate that the manufacturing place was in Jerusalem, and once the city was captured by the Romans, the minting had been terminated. The coins were produced in silver and bronze. The silver coins were made of high quality metal and according to high minting standards. All silver coins bear the slogan: "Jerusalem the Holy", and indicate their weight unit: “Shekel of Israel,” “Half of a shekel” or “Quarter of a shekel.” The bronze coins of the second and third years, which carry the slogan “Freedom of Zion,” are abundant and negligently manufactured. The bronze coins of the fourth year, which are of different denominations, are of a slightly higher quality and bear the legend: “To the redemption of Zion.” The coins minted by the Jewish rebels during the revolt are a first-hand evidence independent of literary sources.

In this paper, I argue that the coins of the Jewish war of 66-70 C.E. demonstrate the theocratic conception of the Zealots and of the faction of Simon bar Giora. They are designed as responses to Roman issues and, therefore, are influenced by Roman currency. This minting is a powerful affirmation of independence for a so-called Jewish "State." The divisions into several factions make it impossible to recognize a unanimous conception of what the political system among the Jews must have been. However, each coin seems to support the theocratic ideal, focalized either on the temple of Jerusalem or on the redemption of the people. r o t e c t e d u n d e r c o p y r i g h t l a w. Al l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d . No p a r t o f t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n ma y b e r e p r o d u c e d , t r a n s mi t e d , l e n t o r ma d e a v a i l a b l e i n l i b r a r y r e t r i e v a l s y s t e ms . T h i s p u b l i c a t i o n i s ma d e a v a i l a b l e t o t h e a u t h o r s o n l y .

The study deals with the coins issued by the Jews during the first revolt against Rome. The main literary source describing the events is the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who was also one of the leaders of the revolt. The coins were minted during the first five years, from the outbreak of the war in 66 c.e., till the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 c.e. The revolt continued till the capture of the last stronghold of Masada in 73 c.e., but no coins were found bearing a date later than the fifth year. This may indicate that the manufacturing place was in Jerusalem, and once the city was captured by the Romans, the minting had been terminated. The coins were produced in silver and bronze. The silver coins were made of high quality metal and according to high minting standards. All silver coins bear the slogan: "Jerusalem the Holy", and indicate their weight unit: “Shekel of Israel,” “Half of a shekel” or “Quarter of a shekel.” The bronze coins of the second and third yea...