Silver shekel of the Second Jewish Revolt, struck over a
denarius of the Emperor Hadrian
AD 133-135
From Judaea, Palestine
This silver coin shows how, in an act of
defiance against Roman rule, the Jewish population in the province
of Judaea over-struck portraits of the Emperor Hadrian with their
own symbols.
Jerusalem had been destroyed by Roman forces
in AD 70 and the Roman authorities prevented the Jews from
rebuilding their temple, which was the focal point of their
religious and cultural identity. Moreover, Hadrian decided to
re-found Jerusalem as a Roman colony named Aelia Capitolina
This and other measures, such as banning
circumcision, prompted the Jews to rise against Rome under their
charismatic leader Simon Bar Kokhba, an assumed name, meaning ‘Son
of the Star’ (a reference to his divine claim to leadership). The
Roman forces were taken by surprise and suffered heavy
casualties.
The rebels established their own rule in the
territory they held and Bar Kokhba took the title ‘Prince of
Israel’ (nsy’ Ysr’l). As well as over-striking Roman coins
like this one, they minted their own with highly symbolic and
deeply emotive motifs referring to the destroyed Temple of
Jerusalem and the rituals associated with it. A new era of
‘Redemption’ or ‘Freedom of Israel’ was declared. Documents dated
‘Years One to Four’ survive and cover the period from March/April
AD 132 to the time when the Romans re-established control in the
autumn of AD 135.