GOLDBERGS OFFER MONEY OF THE BIBLE COLLECTION

Goldberg Auctioneers Pre-Long Beach Sale, Session Six on February 2, features The Money of the Bible Collection. It kicks off with the fabled Menorah coin, issued by the last Hasmonean (Maccabean) King Mattathias Antigonus c. 37 BCE as he was fighting off Herod, who was backed by the Romans; the Very Fine example is estimated at $45,000-UP.

The following lots feature Shekels and Half Shekels issued by the Jews as they fought the Romans in the First Revolt, culminating with the extremely rare Shekel issued in the fifth year (April-August 70 CE). The Year Five Shekel is described as: “Our coin is one of only ten known which share this obverse die, the same die as found on all of the Year 5 shekels excavated at the mountain-top fortress of Masada, thus making a total of only 12 examples from all known dies. Year 5 shekels are the rarest of all the shekels minted during the First Revolt. There were only four months that year to strike them before Titus captured Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple in the Fall of 70 AD. Nevertheless, during the last months of the siege when all commerce as well as the striking of bronze coins came to a halt, it was important to continue striking coins in silver in order for the Jews to continue to pay the half-shekel Temple tax, as commanded in Exodus 30.13. Graded Extremely Fine/Very Fine, it carries an estimate of $125,000-UP.

Over 30 silver coins of the Second Revolt (132-135 CE) are featured, including selas (tetradrachms) and zuzim (denarii) from the first, second and third years of the Bar Kochba Revolt. Noteworthy is a Year One Sela described as “incredibly choice example of this major Judean rarity. Boldly struck on a full flan with nice wide margins on both sides. Superb Extremely Fine,” and estimated at $60,000-UP.

For collectors of Holy Land coins without deep pockets, there are about 40 lots of Judaea City Coinage issued by the Romans in Akko Ptolemais, Caesarea Panias, Gadara, Caesarea Maritima, Sepphoris, Tiberias, etc. generally priced in low 3-figures.

Online bidding for the sale will be on GoldbergLive Auctions at goldbergcoins.com, where the catalog can be viewed.

To read the catalog, see:
www.goldbergcoins.com

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