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.
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