Judaea, The Jewish War. Silver Shekel (13.45 g), 66-70 CE. Jerusalem, year 4 (69/70 CE). 'Shekel of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), ritual chalice with pearled rim, the base raised by projections on both ends; above, 'year 4'. Rev. 'Jerusalem the holy' (Paleo-Hebrew), staff with three pomegranate buds, round base. Hendin 1364; TJC 207; Deutsch die 22. Boldly struck and well centered on a nice full flan. Lightly toned. A marvelous example of this very rare year 4 shekel. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $20,000 - UP
From the Palm Desert Collection.
The disasters brought by the internecine conflict among the Jewish rebel factions in the third year of the Jewish War turned into horror in the fourth (April 69-March 70 CE) as Titus marched south against Jerusalem and laid siege to the heavily fortified city. The Jews trapped within faced the torment of starvation. Hunger stalked the streets and compelled the Jerusalemites to eat the leather from their shoes, belts, and even the coverings of their shields. Some even descended to cannibalism in order to survive. By this point, the possibility of redeeming Zion from the Romans, as indicated by the coin legend, was long past and the tragic fall of the Holy City was soon to come.