Jonathan K. Kern Inventory

133-134 AD silver sela of the Bar Kochba War in Judaea

Vitae

Date: 133-134 AD

Dimensions: 26mm

Certified by: NGC

Grade: Abt. Unc

Obverse

Obverse of selavesp

Façade of second Temple, Ark of the Covenant within.

Reverse

Reverse of selavesp

Lulav with etrog at left, "For the freedom of Israel"

Additional Notes

These are always overstruck on Roman silver. In this case the undertype is a tetradrachm of Vespasian from Antioch. Vespasian was the Roman general instrumental in the defeat of the Jews 66-70 AD and the destruction of the very temple now so boldly struck over his flattened face. Remnants of the inscription remain. The edges are always hammered to improve overstriking, which in this case split the original coin in two places.

Cost: $2977