04-09-2012 – 01-01-1970
Shoshana Collection of Judaean Coins, Part 2
Shoshana Collection 2 at Heritage
A magnificent gold Aureus of the Roman Emperor Macrinus, dated to 218 AD – and pedigreed to the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection – shattered pre-auction expectations on September 5 at the Long Beach Convention Center, selling for $203,150 against a $40,000 estimate as a part of Heritage’s auction of the Shoshana Collection of Judaean Coins, Part 2. The entire offering brought just more than $1.5 million and was held in conjunction with the Long Beach Coin and Collectibles Expo. All prices include a 19.5% Buyer’s Premium.
20321: ROMAN EMPIRE. Macrinus (217-218 AD). AV aureus (20mm, 6.81 gm, 6h). Rome, AD 218. Estimate: $40,000. Realized: $203,150.
“Though not strictly speaking a Judaean-related coin, the brief reign of Macrinus took place entirely in the neighboring province of Syria,” said David Michaels, Director of Ancient Coins at Heritage Auctions.
“Macrinus assumed power after arranging for the murder of the hated previous emperor, Caracalla. His reign was brief, lasting slightly more than a year before he lost the support of the military and was executed.”
Gold coins of Macrinus are exceedingly rare, and this is a magnificent example, struck in high relief from dies of fine style and fully lustrous, grading choice extremely fine.
20123: Jewish War (66-70 AD). AR shekel (21.2 mm, 14.10 gm, 12h). Year 4. Estimate: $30,000. Realized: 65,725.
A superb year 4 silver shekel from the Jewish War (66-70 AD) sold for $65,725, more than doubling its pre-auction estimate of $30,000. Production of silver coins at the Jerusalem Temple appears to have dropped sharply in the fourth year of the Jewish War, when supplies of precious metal dried up.
“While the number of recorded specimens for the first three years number in the hundreds, only 40 shekels are known from Year 4,” said Michaels.
“The Shoshana Collection includes three year 4 shekels, which number among the finest surviving examples. Two of these coins were offered in this auction, with the other realizing $26,887.”
A bronze prutah from Mattatayah Antigonus (40-37 BC), featuring one of the very few surviving images of the menorah of the second Jerusalem temple, also exceeded pre-auction expectations by selling for $56,762.
At the time this coin was struck, the menorah and table were specific references to the Jerusalem Temple itself. It was only much later, after the Temple was destroyed by Titus in 70 AD, that the use of the menorah as a symbol was expanded. By the 4th-5th centuries AD the menorah had become a widely used symbol of Judaism itself, used on rings, seals, oil lamps and synagogue decorations.
Silver selas from the 132-135 AD Bar Kokhba revolt proved very popular, as three such coins from the first year of the revolt crossed the auction block for prices exceeding $40,000.
20130: Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-135 AD). AR sela (25mm, 14.79 gm, 12h). First year (132/133 AD). Estimate: $50,000. Realized: $59,750.
A superb example realized $59,750, while two examples grading Extremely Fine sold for $47,800 and $41,825 respectively. These rare coins are notable for their depiction of the Holy Ark of the Covenant within the Jerusalem temple.
Further highlights include, but are not limited to:
- Jewish War (66-70 AD), AR irregular shekel: Year 5. Hendin 1370a. TJC 215a. Samuels 95. Realized: $44,812.
- Mattatayah Antigonus (40-37 BC), AE prutah: Hendin 1168. TJC 41. AJC I Group Z. Samuels 44. Realized: $35,850.
- Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-135 AD), AR zuz: First year (132/133 AD). Hendin 1374. TJC 219. AJC II 264,2. Samuels 99. Realized: $21,510.
- Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-135 AD), AR sela: Second year (133/134 AD). Mildenberg 127,11.4. Hendin 1386. TJC 230. AJC II 266,12a. Realized: $20,315.
- Philistia (5-4 centuries BC, AR quarter-shekel: Gitler-Tal XX.15D. Babelon 124.2. Mildenberg 1990a pl. 7,21. Realized: $17,925.
- Jewish War (66-70 AD), AE half-shekel: Year 4. Hendin 1367. TJC 211. AJC II 262,27. Realized: $17,925.
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