Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 62

The Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Ancient Jewish Coins

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 3117		The Jewish War, 66-70 CE. AR Tetradrachm (13.93 g) dated year 1 (66-67 CE). Temple vessel (omer cup?) with medium plain rim and pearl on either side; above, date and surrounding Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shekel of Israel". Reverse: Stem with three budding pomegranates; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Jerusalem is Holy". NLJ 81 (same obverse die); AJC II, plate 17, 3a; TJC 189; H-1354. Extremely Fine. The treatment of the omer cup on the obverse is different on the year one issues as compared to the later-dated coins. On these first-year shekels the strength and charisma of the coins is apparent, while a few technical minting procedures were solved, such as die alignment and edge hammering (to minimize the unfinished appearance of striking cracks). Estimated Value $3,000 - 4,000. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,188
Lot 3118		The Jewish War, 66-70 CE. AR Half Shekel (6.50 g) dated year 1 (66-67 CE). Temple vessel (omer cup?) with medium plain rim and pearl on either side; above, date and surrounding Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Half a Shekel". Reverse: Stem with three budding pomegranates; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Jerusalem is Holy". TJC 188 (same obverse die); AJC II, plate 17, 6; H-1355. A light graze to left of cup. Edge chip not visible on obverse. Extremely Fine/Very Fine. The forms of the Hebrew letters were ancient already when these 2000-year-old testimonials were minted. Many scholars don't immediately recognize them. They must have been utilized to show Jewish heritage, steadfastness in regaining their own lands, intentness in their purpose and focus, and hope for as well as faith in the future. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $6,038
Lot 3119		The Jewish War, 66-70 CE. AR Half Shekel (6.81 g) dated Year 2 (67-68 CE). Temple vessel (omer cup?) with rim decorated with seven or eight pearls; above, date and surrounding Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Half a Shekel". Reverse: Stem with three budding pomegranates; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Jerusalem the Holy". NLJ 85; TJC 195; H-1359. Of good metal and attractively toned. Extremely Fine. While the number of pearls which decorate the rim of the chalice varies, usually nine pearls are visible on the shekels dated year two and later. Seven (to nine) pearls are the norm for the half shekels of year 2 and beyond. The half-shekel denomination paid the annual Temple tax. Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,763
Lot 3120		The Jewish War, 66-70 CE. AR Shekel (14.25 g) dated Year 2 (67-68 CE). Temple vessel (omer cup?) with rim decorated with nine pearls; above, date and surrounding Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shekel of Israel". Reverse: Stem with three budding pomegranates; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Jerusalem the Holy". AJC II, plate 17, 8 (these dies); TJC 193 (same specimen as in AJC); H-1358. Extremely Fine. The raised, parallel lines on the reverse of this coin are from a die-filing procedure accomplished by the minters. This achieved a flatter field on the finished shekel; we can even measure the width of the 2000-year-old file! Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,475
Lot 3121		The Jewish War, 66-70 CE. AR Shekel (13.70 g) dated Year 2 (67-68 CE). Temple vessel (omer cup?) with rim decorated with nine pearls; above, date and surrounding Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shekel of Israel". Reverse: Stem with three budding pomegranates; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Jerusalem the Holy". AJC II, plate 17, 8; Bromberg I, 63; H-1358. Nicely toned. Very Fine/Extremely Fine. The catalogue numbers from David Hendin's guide are from his recently published fifth edition, which is enlarged and has again been completely renumbered. While there is controversy about the obverse chalice, it is likely to represent one in Temple use. The diameter of the cup was measured by a branch of three budding pomegranates, as shown on the reverse. Another theory is that the branch was used in the staff carried by the high priests and/or those in charge of the minting process. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,600
Lot 3122		The Jewish War, 66-70 CE. AR Half Shekel (7.06 g) dated Year 3 (68-69 CE). Temple vessel (omer cup?) with rim decorated with nine pearls (some are quite small); above, date and surrounding Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Half a Shekel". Reverse: Stem with three budding pomegranates; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Jerusalem the Holy". TJC 203; H-1362. Excellent metal. Extremely Fine. "Excellent metal" indirectly refers to the circumstances under which the coin rested for its two-thousand-year "sleep". Was the coin in a container with companion pieces? Did it touch other metal; at what depth was it buried? If a single-coin find, was the soil damp or dry? Acidic or alkaline? All these parameters, and more, affect how closely the molecules of metal are spaced, and the degree of porosity or crystallization. Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $11,213
Lot 3123		The Jewish War, 66-70 CE. AR Shekel (14.25 g) dated Year 3 (68-69 CE). Temple vessel (omer cup?) with rim decorated with eight or nine pearls; above, date and surrounding Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shekel of Israel". Reverse: Stem with three budding pomegranates; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Jerusalem the Holy". TJC 202a; H-1361. Good metal and beautifully toned. Superb Extremely Fine. For decades, Ira and Larry Goldberg have been known for their leadership in the field of Jewish numismatics. They are preeminent in forming the finest private collections, work closely with public holdings (this year they are honored by the American Numismatic Society as the recipients of the Trustees' Award) and conduct their numerous auctions highlighting world-class collections such as those of Levin, Moshe Dayan, Abramowitz, Bromberg and others. This present offering is notable for its run of shekels and Judaea Capta coinage which will stimulate more research, give joy of ownership to others, as well as provide a strong link to these devastating times of turmoil. Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $18,975
Lot 3124		The Jewish War, 66-70 CE. AR Shekel (14.07 g) dated Year 3 (68-69 CE). Temple vessel (omer cup?) with rim decorated with nine pearls; above, date and surrounding Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shekel of Israel". Reverse: Stem with three budding pomegranates; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Jerusalem the Holy". AJC II, plate 18, 18a; TJC 202a; H-1361. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,188
Lot 3125		The Jewish War, 66-70 CE. AR Shekel (12.95 g) dated Year 4 (69-70 CE). Temple vessel (omer cup?) with rim decorated with nine pearls; above, date and surrounding Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shekel of Israel". Reverse: Stem with three budding pomegranates; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Jerusalem the Holy". AJC II, plate 19, 23; H-1364. Rare. About Extremely Fine. Once we get to the year four issues, we encompass the rare coins of the last two years of mint production of the Jewish War. It is difficult to locate an attractive year four shekel; this is certainly one of the nicer of the relatively few in existence. Year four half shekels are of the utmost rarity; only a handful are known. The second example (there may be a third) of the quarter shekel of year 4 remains above the ground in the Middle East. Who knows how many lie beneath the surface! Estimated Value $25,000 - 30,000. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $28,750
Lot 3126		The Jewish War, 66-70 CE. AR Shekel (14.00 g) dated Year 5 (April-August 70 CE). Temple vessel (omer cup?) with rim decorated with nine pearls; above, date and surrounding Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shekel of Israel". Reverse: Stem with three budding pomegranates; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Jerusalem the Holy". TJC 215a; H-1370a. Class II. As struck. Extremely Fine. There are two distinct varieties, or classes, as they have been termed, of this most desirable shekel. Class I issues are those of traditional style and production found in extremely small numbers within hoards such as the Mount of Olives (1961) and those unearthed while excavations occurred at Masada (1963-1965). Probably the most famous of these is the Hunt specimen, found at Masada. This example is published in The Numismatic Legacy of the Jews (coin 94) and Wealth of the Ancient World. Another specimen (ex Reifenberg/Bromberg) was sold by Ira and Larry Goldberg at the Bromberg sale, Part II (10 XII 92), lot 389. There are very few of these class I shekels available, as most are impounded in public collections. Fewer than 15 exist of class I. Differing in style, fabric, epigraphy, metallurgic analysis and unaligned dies are the 15 examples found within trays of the well-respected London dealers, A.H. Baldwin and Sons Ltd. These were brought to the U.S. to be sold by Numismatic Fine Arts of Beverly Hills. These class II types went through extensive SEM analysis (see the article by Herbert Kreindler in INJ 9). All class II pieces were produced by the same pair of dies. Estimated Value $50,000-UP. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3127		Judaea Capta Coinage. Vespasian, AD 69-79. Gold Aureus (7.03 g) minted at Rome, c. 21 December AD 69-early AD 70. Laureate head right of Vespasian. Reverse: Judaea personified seated right; behind, military trophy, greaves and two round shields; in exergue, IVDAEA. RIC 1; H-1464. Very Fine. While scarce as a well-worn silver denarius, this classic Roman coin type is very rare as a gold aureus. Notice how the portrait of Vespasian resembles that of Vitellius. Estimated Value $12,500-UP. Ex Stack's sale, 8 XII 88, lot 2054 Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $17,250
Lot 3128		Judaea Capta Coinage. Vespasian, AD 69-79. Gold Aureus (7.12 g) minted at Rome, c. July-December AD 71. Laureate head right of Vespasian. Reverse: Victory standing right on globe, holding wreath and palm; across field, VIC AVG. RIC 47 [as Rare]. Well-placed, unobtrusive banker's mark at 6 o'clock on obverse. Very Fine. Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,000. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3129		Judaea Capta Coinage. Vespasian, AD 69-79. Gold Aureus (6.97 g) minted at Lugdunum, c. AD 72. Laureate head right of Vespasian. Reverse: Military trophy; around, DE IVDAEIS. RIC (first edition) 301; cf. RIC (second, new edition) 1179 [as Rare; note variation VESPAS in obverse legend]; C. 139; H-1476 var. Light grazing in lower left field. Very Fine. Estimated Value $20,000-UP. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $28,750
Lot 3130		Judaea Capta Coinage. Titus, AD 79-81. Gold Aureus (7.08 g) minted at Rome as Caesar by Vespasian, AD 72-73. Laureate head right of Titus. Reverse: Palm tree; to left, Titus standing right holding spear and parazonium; to right, personification of Judaea seated right. RIC 368 [as Rare]; H-1468. Scrape at obverse edge, 6 o'clock. Very Fine. Numismatically, the Flavians used their Jewish victory to promulgate their dynasty. The "Judaea Capta" issues depict many different reverses involved with military glory and subjugation of the Jews. On many, Judaea personified appears, often weeping or bound. A palm tree leaves no doubt who is portrayed. Estimated Value $15,000-UP. Ex Stack's sale, 10 VI 94, lot 2032 Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3131		Judaea Capta Coinage. Titus, AD 79-81. Gold Aureus (7.13 g) minted at Rome as Caesar by Vespasian, AD 72-73. Laureate head right of Titus. Reverse: Kneeling Jewish captive right, hands bound behind; above, military trophy. RIC 1075 [as R3]; H-1471. Small edge mark visible only on the obverse at 7 o'clock. Very Fine. For a much inferior example of this extremely rare coin, see the Goldberg sale of 2 October 2000, lot 90, which shares this reverse die. This is far the finer specimen of likely the two known. It is only when such specialized collections of Judaea Capta coinage come up for sale that so many pertinent gold aurei are offered. Some types are not represented in the British Museum Catalogue. Estimated Value $15,000-UP. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $17,250
Lot 3132		Judaea Capta Coinage. Titus, AD 79-81. Gold Aureus (7.17 g) minted at Rome, 1 January-30 June AD 80. Laureate head right of Titus. Reverse: Female and male captives seated in attitude of mourning; between, trophy. RIC 100 [as R2]; H-1579. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $40,000-UP. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $44,000
Lot 3133		The Bar Kokhba War, 132-135 CE. AR Denar (or Zuz; 3.28 g) dated Year 2 (133-134 CE). Triform bunch of grapes with vine leaf hanging from a cut branch; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shim'on". Reverse: Upright palm branch; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Year 2 of the Freedom of Israel". Mild 40 [60 examples cited]; cf. H-1394, 1395? but reverse palm branch, not jug. Uncleaned. Very Fine to Extremely Fine. About sixty years after the stronghold at Masada was defeated, the oppressed Jews fought for their human rights and religious beliefs once again. While the tradition of using Palaeo-Hebrew inscriptions was kept, all silver coins were overstruck on the Roman denarii and Roman provincial drachms and tetradrachms then in circulation. During the Bar Kokhba War, there was a greater supply of silver inherent in the circulating Roman coins which the Jews utilized. All Bar Kokhba bronze coinage was overstruck on existing bronze coins as well. The bronze flans in shortest supply were Roman sestertii and large-module city coins, such as from Gaza and other Roman provincial cities. The rare inscription/amphora emissions gradually became thinner and of smaller diameter with the passing years. Imagine the pride and attitude the Jewish minters must have had, overstriking the hated emperors and pagan deities with their own religious types and slogans of freedom! Estimated Value $400 - 500. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $719
Lot 3134		The Bar Kokhba War, 132-135 CE. AR Tetradrachm (or Sela; 14.26 g) attributed to year 3 (134-135 CE). Tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; within the middle of the Temple interior, the Ark of the Covenant in chest form; above, rosette; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shim'on". Reverse: Lulav thrice bound; to left, etrog; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "For the Freedom of Jerusalem". Mild 79 [95 examples cited]; H-1411. Choice Very Fine. Note the eagle's head from the original Antioch tetradrachm striking at 12:30 o'clock on the reverse (new reverse minted over host reverse). The leader of the rebels was Shim'on ben Kosiba (Hebrew), in Aramaic, Shim'on bar Kosiba, or "Son of the Star". There are several ways to spell his given name, from Simon to Schimeon. It is quite possible that the rosette-like symbol at 12 o'clock is a star. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,463
Lot 3135		The Bar Kokhba War, 132-135 CE. AR Tetradrachm (or Sela; 14.79 g) attributed to year 3 (134-135 CE). Tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem; within the middle of the Temple interior, the Ark of the Covenant in chest form; above, rosette; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shim'on". Reverse: Lulav thrice bound; to left, etrog; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "For the Freedom of Jerusalem". Mild 79 [95 examples cited]; H-1411. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,830
Lot 3136		The Bar Kokhba War, 132-135 CE. AR Denar (2.47 g) attributed to year 3 (134-135 CE). Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shim'on" within wreath topped by a medallion and terminating in ribbon ties. Reverse: One-handled jug right with palm branch to right; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "For the Freedom of Jerusalem". Mild 87 [22 examples cited]; cf. AJC II, plate 27, 67a for this obverse die; H-1422. Very Fine to Extremely Fine. Letter spacing and actual delineation of the chosen religious types are two parameters that can aid in die-study work. Actual die wear and die breaks (as shown by raised lines on the finished coin) can also be considered, demonstrating if a particular example is in an early, middle or late die state. A raking (angled) halogen light can sometimes do wonders in this evaluation, as well as better show the host (original) types and inscriptions. When comparing coins with photographs, though, one has to be extremely careful in discerning if lines are raised (from die breaks), or merely scratches. Estimated Value $300 - 400. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $891
Lot 3137		The Bar Kokhba War, 132-135 CE. AR Denar (3.53 g) attributed to year 3 (134-135 CE). Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shim'on" within wreath topped by a medallion and terminating in ribbon ties. Reverse: Kithara (elaborate lyre with soundbox) with three strings; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "For the Freedom of Jerusalem". Mild 130 [108 examples cited]; H-1429. Uncleaned. Very Fine to Extremely Fine. Die matching work is accomplished with the corpus published in 1984, The Coinage of the Bar Kokhba War, authored by the eminent scholar Leo Mildenberg, who possessed two doctorates — one earned, one bestowed in honor. The uncleaned nature of most of these here-offered denars is both attractive and frustrating, and can preclude secure identification of dies and/or understrikings due to the encrustations. Estimated Value $300 - 400. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,121
Lot 3138		The Bar Kokhba War, 132-135 CE. AR Denar (3.42 g) attributed to year 3 (134-135 CE). Triform bunch of grapes with vine leaf hanging from a cut branch; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shim'on". Reverse: Upright palm branch; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "For the Freedom of Jerusalem". Mild 150 [17 examples cited]; cf. AJC II, plate 26, 64 for this obverse die; H-1430. Overstruck on a drachm of Caesarea, likely of Trajan. Uncleaned. Very Fine to Extremely Fine. The study of the understikings of the Bar Kokhba War coin tells us much. Among some questions at least partially answered, it demonstrates how long silver coins were in circulation. Most understrikings are of Trajan (emperor from AD 98-117), while some antedate those by around 150 years, having been minted during the Roman Republican era. An ancient coin collector's dream! Estimated Value $300 - 400. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,035
Lot 3139		The Bar Kokhba War, 132-135 CE. AR Denar (3.35 g) attributed to year 3 (134-135 CE). Triform bunch of grapes with vine leaf hanging from a cut branch; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shim'on". Reverse: Two upright trumpets; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "For the Freedom of Jerusalem". Mild 187 [11 examples cited]; H-1431. Uncleaned. Very Fine to Extremely Fine. Most of these denars are from the El Fawar hoard, found in December of 1978. Two thousand plus Bar Kokhba War denars were discovered, along with around 500 tetradrachms. This find added greatly to our knowledge of these warring years and their coin production. There were at least two mints, a main one, along with a military one. The latter produced the "irregular" coinage — cruder in style and more careless in execution. This and other hoards were discovered around the time of the Six Day War, which opened important territory, formerly closed, ripe for excavations. Estimated Value $300 - 400. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,323
Lot 3140		The Bar Kokhba War, 132-135 CE. AR Denar (3.37 g) attributed to year 3 (134-135 CE). Triform bunch of grapes with vine leaf hanging from a cut branch; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shim'on". Reverse: Kithara with three strings; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "For the Freedom of Jerusalem". Mild 210 [11 examples cited]; H-1435. Likely overstruck on a Roman denarius minted under Trajan. Uncleaned. Very Fine to Extremely Fine. The kithara, or in Hebrew, kinor, was the main instrument of the Second Temple ensemble. Music played an important role in the Sukkot ritual, and the kinor, jug, lulav and other types used on the coinage could well have been chosen with this holiday in mind. Estimated Value $300 - 400. Harold Chopp Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $748