Money of the Bible Collection - Coin Auctions

Lot 3022 - Money of the Bible Collection  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Lot 3022 - Money of the Bible Collection - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Bar Kochba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.27 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Shim'' (abbreviating Shi'mon), in triangular form within a wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, medallion at top, and tendrils below. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel', palm branch. Mildeberg 14 (O4/R9); TJC 245; Hendin 1390. Extremely Rare - only two specimens recorded by Mildenberg. Well struck with nice wide margins, lightly toned. Superb Extremely Fine.

Mildenberg notes that the "completely straight palm branch on [reverse die] R9 is unique throughout the coinage."
Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Money of the Bible Collection
Lot 3038 - Money of the Bible Collection  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Lot 3038 - Money of the Bible Collection - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Bar Kochba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.33 g), 132-135 CE. Undated, attributed to year 3 (134/5 CE). 'Shim'on', in two lines within a wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, medallion at top, and tendrils below, pair of dots, one inside and one outside, between each section. Reverse: 'For the freedom of Jerusalem', palm branch. Mildeberg 122 (O18/R80); TJC 279; Hendin 1425. Overstruck on a denarius of Hadrian. Lightly toned. Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $500 - 600.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Money of the Bible Collection
Lot 3001 - Money of the Bible Collection  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Lot 3001 - Money of the Bible Collection - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Jewish War. Silver Shekel (13.85 g), 66-70 CE. Year 1 (66/7 CE). 'Shekel of Israel' around, '[year] 1' above, omer cup with smooth rim and pellet to either side. Reverse: 'Jerusalem [the] holy', sprig of three pomegranates. TJC 187; Hendin 1354. Excellent metal and toned. Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000.
Ex Goldberg 41 (27 May 2007), 2495.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Money of the Bible Collection
Lot 3017 - Money of the Bible Collection  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Lot 3017 - Money of the Bible Collection - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Bar Kochba Revolt. Silver Sela (13.20 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Jerusalem', tetrastyle facade of the Temple of Jerusalem; Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side; star above. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel', lulav with etrog at left. Mildeberg 21 (O4/R14); TJC 230a; Hendin 1387. Boldly struck and well centered, lightly toned. Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Money of the Bible Collection
Lot 3033 - Money of the Bible Collection  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Lot 3033 - Money of the Bible Collection - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Bar Kochba Revolt. Silver Sela (14.27 g), 132-135 CE. Undated, attributed to year 3 (134/5 CE). 'Shim'on', tetrastyle facade of the Temple of Jerusalem; Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side; wavy line above. Reverse: 'For the freedom of Israel', lulav with etrog at left. Mildeberg 90 (O17/R69); TJC 269; Hendin 1413. Rare - only four specimens recorded by Mildenberg. Virtually as struck with underlying frosty mint luster and lightly toned. Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Money of the Bible Collection
Lot 3012 - Money of the Bible Collection  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Lot 3012 - Money of the Bible Collection - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Bar Kochba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.24 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1/2 hybrid (132/3-133/4 CE). 'Year one of the redemption of Israel', grape bunch on vine with small leaf. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel', palm branch. Mildeberg 10 (O2/R9); TJC 237; Hendin 1382. Very Rare. Well struck on a nice broad flan and well centered on both sides. A marvelous specimen! Nearly Mint State.
Estimated Value $9,000-UP.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Money of the Bible Collection
Lot 3028 - Money of the Bible Collection  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Lot 3028 - Money of the Bible Collection - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Bar Kochba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.23 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Shim'on', in two lines within a wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, medallion at top, and tendrils below. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel', palm branch. Mildeberg 59 (O14/R29); TJC 246; Hendin 1401. Overstruck on a drachm of Trajan from Bostra. Lightly toned. Choice Very Fine.
Estimated Value $400 - 500.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Money of the Bible Collection
Lot 3044 - Money of the Bible Collection  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Lot 3044 - Money of the Bible Collection - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Vespasian. Gold Aureus (7.32 g), AD 69-79. 'Judaea Capta' type. Lugdunum, AD 71. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG TR P, laureate head of Vespasian right. Reverse: TRIVMP AVG in exergue, emperor on triumphal quadriga right, holding palm and eagle-tipped scepter, being crowned by Victory standing behind him and accompanied by trumpeter; before horses, soldier escorting captive with arms bound behind his back. RIC 1127; BMC 397; BN 17; Calicó 689; Hendin 1475. One of the rarest types of Judaea Capta coinage, this handsome example was struck immediately after the Jewish War concluded. Boldly struck in high relief with excellent detail. Delicately toned. Choice Very Fine.

Simon bar Giora Aureus

This very rare 'Judaea Capta' - themed aureus, minted to commemorate the recently concluded Jewish War, is most notable for its reverse type. The exergual inscription simply reads: TRIVMP AVG (Triumph of Augustus [Vespasian]). Depicted with particular clarity is the imperial quadriga in the way it would have appeared in the triumphal procession, preceded by a soldier who looks back at the emperor, while escorting a captive with hands bound behind. Robert Deutsch (BAR Jan/Feb 2010, 51-53) identifies the captive as the most important leader of Jerusalem in the Jewish War, Simon bar Giora.

The triumph celebrated by Vespasian and Titus in 71 A.D. was a magnificent showcase of the abundance gleaned from the victory over the destroyed province. Booty taken back to Rome after the war was prodigious. When the Romans entered the Temple court, "so glutted with plunder were the troops, one and all, that throughout Syria the standard of gold was depreciated to half its former value" (Josephus, de Bello Judaico, 6.316-322).

The triumph itself was described in vivid detail by Josephus, who was an eye-witness to the event (de Bello Judaico, 7.24): "…as dawn was breaking [Titus and Vespasian] emerged, crowned with laurel wreaths and wearing the time-honored purple clothes…. It is impossible to do justice in the description of the number of things to be seen and the magnificence of everything… For almost all the remarkable and valuable objects which have ever been collected … were on that day massed together, affording a clear demonstration of the might of the Roman Empire. The quantities of silver, gold and ivory, worked into every conceivable form, were not like those usually carried in a triumph, but resembled, as it were, a running river of wealth… The greatest amazement was by the floats… For many were three or four stories high… Standing on his individual float was the commander of each of the captured cities showing the way he had been taken prisoner… Spoil in abundance was carried past. None of it compared with that taken from the Temple in Jerusalem, a golden table [the showbread table], and a golden lamp stand [the menorah]… The Law [Torah; The Five Books of Moses] was carried last of all the spoil.

The procession culminated at the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus… where they still had to wait for the traditional moment when the news was brought of the death of the enemy leader. In this case he was Simon bar Giora, who had passed in procession with captives and had been dragged under the lash, with his head in a noose, to a spot near the Forum. That is the traditional place at Rome for the execution of those condemned to death for war crimes. When his end was announced and a general cheer had arisen, they started the sacrifices…."
Estimated Value $50,000-UP.
Ex Goldberg 41 (27 May 2007), 2786.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Money of the Bible Collection
Lot 3007 - Money of the Bible Collection  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Lot 3007 - Money of the Bible Collection - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Jewish War. Æ Quarter (8.63 g), 66-70 CE. Year 4 (69/70 CE). 'Year four, quarter', two lulav branches. Reverse: 'For the redemtion of Zion', etrog. TJC 213b; Hendin 1368. Rare. Dark brown patina with some lighter highlights. Seldom seen this choice. Nearly Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500.
Ex Goldberg 41 (27 May 2007), 2509.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Money of the Bible Collection
Lot 3023 - Money of the Bible Collection  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Lot 3023 - Money of the Bible Collection - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Bar Kochba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.16 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Shim'on', grape bunch on vine with small leaf and tendril. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel', wide lyre with three strings. Mildeberg 43 (O9/R25); TJC 242; Hendin 1393. Rare. Overstruck on a denarius of Trajan with part of the obverse legend and face showing. Rare. Lightly toned. Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Money of the Bible Collection