Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Jerusalem' (Paleo-Hebrew), tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; show bread table or Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs, seen from a narrow side; above façade, cross. Reverse: 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), lulav with etrog at left. Hendin 1387a; Mildenberg 15 (O4/R8); TJC 230. Rare. Perfectly centered on a nice broad flan. Lightly toned, darkening around the devices. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $5,000 - UP
The obverse of this year 2 sela issue depicts the Jerusalem Temple but now features a + shape above the façade whereas this space was taken up by part of the paleo-Hebrew legend on the issues of the first year of the Bar Kokhba War. There is a great deal of controversy over whether this added symbol was intended to depict a star and advertise Simon bar Kokhba's supposed messianic ambitions. The patronymic of the rebel leader was actually bar Kosiba but he assumed the name bar Kokhba (literally "son of a star") as his nom de guerre because of its association with the messianic prophecy of Numbers 24:17.
Ex Kenneth Brattlie Collection, from Antiqua, NYINC 1/9/2008.