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VIRTUAL JEWISH MUSEUM

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The Bar - Kochba Revolt

The Jewish community remained unsettled after their defeat and there were more revolts in the Middle East in 115 - 117 CE. Emperor Hadrian (ruled 117 – 138 C.E.) forbade circumcision and built a Roman pagan temple to Jupiter on the site of the Beit Hamikdash, the Jewish Second Temple. This prompted the activists who were yearning for a restoration of their Temple service to revolt against Roman rule. Their military leader was Shimon Bar Kochba and this Second Revolt is also known by his name. Considering the circumstances, these rebels produced a remarkable series of coins, in six denominations and a variety of images, generally beautifully executed. They continued the use of the archaic Hebrew script, which few could read but which harked back to the glory days. The minting was facilitated by overstriking existing coins, sometimes imperfectly.

Bar Kochba Revolt In a revolt that lasted much of a decade, Jews were on the run, hiding in hills and caves, and even in excavated underground chambers and tunnels. It is remarkable that in these circumstances a distinctly Jewish coinage was produced, with over a dozen carefully engraved designs. Most of the surviving examples, beautifully preserved, were discovered in those same tunnels, in modern times. Coins are dated 'Year 1', 'Year 2', and undated, assumed to be the last period of the revolt.	BK.Hadrian.Adventui.1604d This Second Revolt erupted during Hadrian's reign and in response to his actions. In his admiration for Greek/Hellenic culture, he forbade circumcision. That alone was intolerable to Jews. He visited Gaza, commemorated by this Roman sestertius in 130 CC. ADVENTUI AUG IUDAEAE = 'Arrival of Emperor in Judea'. He is shown greeting 'Judea' along with 2 children, an altar, and a bull. The upbeat tone of the coin and the name 'Judaea' suggests it was struck before the vicious battles of the Revolt.	BK.Gaza.Ros.60 That same visit was commemorated on local Gaza coins. The obverse shows Hadrian and Greek inscription: AYT KAI TRA ADRIANOC. Reverse shows city goddess Tyche and is inscribed GAZA G('3' rd year) EPI (= visit) BYR (= 192 which is Ptolemaic era date = 131-132 CE).
BK.Denomination set Seven distinct sizes are found with much consistency. The silver pieces, struck over Roman tetradrachms and denarii, are very consistent. The bronze denominations seem to have been overstruck on a variety of local city issues, chosen for their approximate size. The designs seem to indicate the value, although we don't know exactly what that was.	BK.Sela.1387 The tetradrachm is known in Jewish literature as a 'Sela'. It was overstruck on Roman Syrian coins. The dated side - 'Year 2 of Israel' shows an accurate image of a Lulav with its bundle of side branches, and an Etrog next to it. The other side reads 'YeRUShaLeM" and surrounds what is understood to be the entrance to the Temple. Modern models are based on this image, with numerous details to study. The Sela was valued for its silver content and noted for its diameter. Weight close to 14 grams.	BK.Sela.1411 Now the inscription reads 'For the Freedom of Jerusalem' and is undated. These are assumed to be the latest examples, and are not as carefully produced. Bar Kochba's men probably never reclaimed Jerusalem but it was a patriotic rallying cry.
BK.Nero.Tetradrachm The Roman tetradrachm minted in Syria was the host coin for the Bar Kochba Sela. This one pictures Nero. The coin is mentioned several times in the Talmud. It weighed about 14 grams and measured 25 mm in diameter.	BK.Sela and host coin This Sela shows traces of the understrike.	BK.Zuz.1435 This is a 'Zuz', one fourth of a 'Sela', overstruck on a denarius or drachm. The obverse shows a lyre of 3 strings, surrounded by 'For the Freedom of Jerusalem'. The reverse shows a bunch of grapes surrounded by Bar Kochba's first name "ShiM'ON". After some cleaning from dirt and patina, this coin looks like the day it was made - in 135 CE !
BK.Zuz.1418 This Zuz shows a jug and Lulav/palm branch. These were items any Jew would associate with Temple ceremonies on the Sukkot holiday. Around: 'For the Freedom of Jerusalem'. On the back we read ShiM'ON inside a wreath. Another beautifully preserved specimen.	BK.zuz.1433.grapes.off center A similar specimen struck very sharply but off-center allows us to see the coin on which it was overstruck.	BK.zuz.1433.overstruck comparison That is a denarius of Trajan, his bust and titles on the front. On the reverse we see a Roman soldier with his spear and shield. The inscription: SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI. On our Zuz, properly rotated, we can read OPTIMO and even see the top of the spear.
BK.Zuz.Year 2.1391 This Zuz bears Shimon's name in a wreath. Actually, just the first 3 letters of his name - Shin Mem Ayin - which also spell 'Shma', a very meaningful prayer word to the Jewish fighters. Around the pitcher and palm branch we read 'Sh B LeHR YiSRaEL' = Year 2 of the Freedom of Israel.	BK.Zuz.pierced.1433 This coin bears the jug and palm on the front and the bunch of grapes on the back. 2 distinguishing features: it is pierced and it is heavily worn. These coins only circulated for a year or two so weren't worn from that. Until the 20th century, almost all known Zuzim were holed. They had been worn on dowry necklaces by Arab women. Hence pierced, and eventually worn down. The 'fresh' ones were waiting in tunnels to be found...	BK.Zuz.Trumpets.1431 A pair of silver trumpets were also associated with Temple activities. These have the same inscriptions as previous, and are combined with the grape reverse. The slightly uneven and off-center strike allows us to glimpse the understrike - that is, the original 'host' coin.
BK.Zuz.Trumpets.1431.overstruck Here we can compare them. The host coin is a denarius of Hadrian. Most obvious are the letters under the trumpets: IUSTITIA. On the Hadrian denarius we read the same word, meaning 'Justice', under the goddess that personifies it. On the grape side we read at the top 'TRAIAN' which is part of Hadrian's name (he added the previous emperor's name, Trajan, to his own when he became emperor). We can also see the top of his head. Identifying the host coin also helps us date the B.K. coins.	Silver Coin Edges Comparing the Bar Kochba coins on the right with the Roman host coins on the left, we see that the coins are not only round, they have thick, high edges. No other ancient coins have this unique feature. It is assumed they were held in a round collar for striking, that didn't permit the metal to spread out. This allowed for strong strikes and few cracked coins, despite being struck while cold.	BK.Large Bronze.1376 The 'large bronzes' of Bar Kochba are very scarce with fewer than 200 examples known. They were apparently struck on a Roman sestertius, which did not circulate widely in Judea. These large thick coins did not overstrike easily and are often imperfect. They all show an amphora on the obverse, dated year 1 or 2. Here we read 'Year 1 for the redemption of Israel'. The reverse reads 'Shimon Prince of Israel'.
BK.1378.Medium Brnz.Nasi This first year medium bronze became the model for most of the medium and small bronze issues. The palm tree and grape leaf are iconic elements. The obverse gives a full inscription: 'Shimon Prince of Israel'. The reverse gives the date: SheNaT AChaT LeGeULaT YSRaEL.: Year One of the Redemption of Israel. They average about 26 mm. in diameter.	BK.med.brnz.yr 2.1408a The Year 2 specimens do not include the title 'Nasi" (Prince/Head). We simply read 'ShiM'ON', Shin Mem Ayin Vav, Nun. On this one, the Ayin (a circle) is out of place, coming before instead of after the Mem. The reverse reads Sh(ana) B(et) LeCheR(ut) YiSRaEL. The Resh was omitted and was added below the Shin (at about 4 o'clock on the coin). The engravers likely were not literate in this ancient alphabet.	BK.Medium Brnz.1437.year 3 The undated examples are assumed to be the latest ones, from the third year. ShiM'ON on the tree side, and around the grape leaf: LeHeRUT YeRUShaLeM, for the Freedom of Jerusalem. (In antiquity Yerushalayim was often written without the last Yud, hence 'Yerushalem'). This example is perfectly centered and strongly struck.
BK.Med Bronze.1437.close up.rotated Despite the strong strike, we can see the outline of a head and the ribbons of the diadem upon it, when the coin is rotated.	BK.1408.Med Bronze.Titus Profile This medium bronze was overstruck on a somewhat smaller host coin. It is from year 2 but most of the lettering is not seen. What is seen is an outline profile of Titus, 'under' the grape leaf. His features are quite clear. Notice that only the first 3 letters of ShiM'(ON) appear on the obverse. They also spell 'SheMA' which would have additional meaning to Bar Kochba's fighters.	BK.Med Brnz.1437.overstruck This undated overstruck medium bronze shows file marks on the obverse, attempting to remove an offensive pagan image from the host coin. The reverse also has a few file marks, but the strike is off-center and the understrike is revealed.
BK.1437.Overstrike and Host The portrait and some letters from the host coins allow us to identify it. It is a bronze coin of Ascalon. The face represents Nero (ruled 54 -68 CE) and the original is dated to 58/59 CE. Here we can see the similarities.	BK.Barbaric.Medium Bronze A significant number of BK coins display poor artwork and lettering, mostly medium bronzes. These have been labeled 'irregular' or 'barbaric' for their style. They look like amateurish imitations. It is thought that they come from a separate mint, perhaps on the move. This coin is thin and larger than average, possibly from being hammered flat before restriking. Lettering Sh(ana) B LH(erut) (Yi)S(rael) suggests year two. (Mildenberg #179)	Medium Heavy Bronze.1377 A group of bronzes a little smaller than the Palm tree coins but sometimes thicker, show a wide lyre. The number of strings varies from 4 - 6. Around, we read 'Year 1 of the Redemption of Israel'. BK's full title surrounds the back: 'Shimon Prince of Israel'. Inside we see a palm branch within an olive wreath. This and the following coin must represent a different denomination. They are scarcer than the palm types.
BK.Medium Light.1436 This type features a narrower lyre, with just 3 strings. It resembles the one appearing on Zuzim. Around 21 mm in diameter. Just ShiM'ON on the front, but a full 'for the Freedom of Jerusalem' on the back in small letters. The designs are usually too large to fit the smaller host coins chosen for them.	BK.countermarks These coins are noteworthy for the countermarks they show. Those marks were on the host coin before BK overstruck them. Sooo ... they were struck 3 times: first as a local city coin, then countermarked by the Roman legions in the area and finally by Bar Kochba. We see an X for 10th legion on the left and a portrait on the right, at the top of the trunk!	Small bronzes.compared The smallest denomination of Bar Kochba is referred to as 'Small Bronze'. It might correspond to a Roman semis or quadrans. They all have the palm tree on the obverse and a bunch of grapes on the reverse. The inscriptions on both front and back vary. the diameters are 18 - 20 mm.
BK.Small Bronze.1380.Elazar This small bronze is from year one as stated around the grapes 'ShNaT AHaT LeGULaT YiSRa(EL)'. More curious is the legend on the front: ELAZaR HaKoHen HGaDoL (usually somewhat scrambled and often backwards!. Still, who was Elazar the High Priest? Some say he was BK's uncle, some say he was a pious scholar who fasted and prayed for protection for his people. The year 1 coins are generally carefully struck.	BK.small.1410.yr 2 This one reads around the grapes 'Year 2 for the Freedom of Israel', usually incomplete for lack of room. Under the palm tree 'YeRUShaLeM'.	BK.small.1439 This example reads 'Yerushalem' on the obverse. Around the grapes we read 'For the Freedom of Jerusal(em)', usually unfinished. It is usually ascribed to the 3rd year of the Revolt, 134-5 CE. Interestingly, it features Jerusalem twice on one coin!
BK.Small Bronze.1440 This undated example reads ShiM'ON under the tree. Around the grapes we read 'For the Freedom of Jerusal(em)'. Jerusalem was on their minds but far from their reach, as they were losing this campaign.	BK.Founder.Hadrian Hadrian founded a Roman city on the ruins of Jerusalem. He named it Aelia Capitolina. The 1st word is Hadrian's family name, the 2nd dedicated to the chief Roman god - Jupiter Capitolinas. Hadrian's bust and titles are on the obverse. The reverse shows a classic Roman symbol of founding a colony: the emperor plows the perimeter with a bull & cow. Around, we read: COL(onia) AEL(ia) KAPIT(olina) COND(ita) - 'Colony of Aelia Capitolina is Founded'. Undated, probably 130 CE, igniting the revolt.	BK.Palestina This coin of Marcus Aurelius, struck in 160 CE in Neapolis, reflects another lasting effect of Hadrian's conquest. Having renamed Jerusalem, he now renamed the whole country (Judea) as 'Syria Palestina'. Thus erasing its Jewish character and invoking the name of the long-extinct Philistine population. The name survives to this day among the Arabs.

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