57 | Greek coins

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JUDAEA, First Jewish War (66-70 CE). Shekel. (Ar. 13.17g/22mm). Year 2 (67-68 CE). Jerusalem. (Hendin 1358; Meshorer 193). Obv: Omer cup with pearl decoration, above year 2 in Hebrew, around legend in Hebrew. Rev: Stem with three pomegranates, around legend in Hebrew. VF+. Very rare example. Mechanically cleaned.

The First Jewish War, also known as the Great Jewish Revolt, was part of a series of conflicts between the Jewish people and the Roman Empire between the 1st and 7th centuries CE. This piece, of enormous historical significance, belongs to the first of these conflicts, and its contemporaries included figures such as Vespasian and Titus, the latter being the architect of the conquest of Jerusalem around 70 CE. In 68 CE, the year this coin was minted, one of the major Roman campaigns took place, subjugating much of Judea, Samaria, Idumea, and Perea, leaving the emblematic and strategic city of Jerusalem isolated and ripe for a final blow. However, this didn't happen for a couple of years, as disputes surrounding the imperial throne prolonged the conflict longer than desired, leading to a brief resurgence of Jewish troops who ultimately succumbed to Titus's military might. This not only crushed the revolt in its first phase but also completely razed the city. What happened in Judea around this time was no different from what was occurring in other parts of the Empire, where social inequalities, high taxes, and poor governance fueled frequent rebellions. However, in the case of Judea, the religious and political aspect was also a distinguishing factor: not being Jewish was sufficient reason to question the legitimacy of Roman rule over Judea.