Israel Numismatic Research

Published by the Israel Numismatic Society

Volume 14  2019

Contents

3 Haim Gitler and Oren Tal. Test Cuts on Philistian Rb‘ Sheqels / Quarters: A Case Study

25 Catherine C. Lorber. Tetradrachms of Ptolemy III Euergetes with a Cornucopia (Svoronos 1001; CPE 732)

41 Donald T. Ariel. A Second Seleucid Coin Attributed to Jerusalem

73 Yoav Farhi and Boris Bessarabov. The Bronze Coinage of Demetrias (by the Sea): New Types and a Comprehensive Catalogue

91 Rachel Barkay. Depiction of Emperor Augustus on Coins of Aretas IV, King of the Nabateans

97 Linda T. Zollschan. The Conclusion of the First Jewish Revolt: Interpreting IVDAEA RECEPTA

117 Nathan T. Elkins. Publicizing Victory: The Frequency and Audience of Flavian ‘Judaea Capta’ Coins from the Imperial Mints

131 David Jacobson. The End of Agrippa II’s Rule, as Revealed by Coins

141 Lior Sandberg. The Coinage of Flavia Neapolis under Philip I — The Roman Connection

153 David Woods. A Note on Arab-Byzantine Coins of the Jāza Hādhā Type

161 Nikolaus Schindel. Once Again: Countermarks on Umayyad Post-Reform Copper Coins

169 Robert Kool, Nikolaus Schindel and Issa Baidoun. A New Assemblage of Cut Gold Fragments from the Crusader Period

193 Ira Rezak. A Rare Gold Theodor Herzl Medal

Abstracts
 

3 Haim Gitler and Oren Tal. Test Cuts on Philistian Rb‘ Sheqels / Quarters: A Case Study
This paper examines the main objective of test cuts on Philistian quarters. As opposed to the common view that considers test cuts as the examination of the silver content and/or quality of coins during transactions, it is hereby suggested that test cuts were intended to validate these issues by officials on behalf the minting authorities right after their production and before
putting them into circulation.

25 Catherine C. Lorber. Tetradrachms of Ptolemy III Euergetes with a Cornucopia (Svoronos 1001; CPE 732)
Svoronos’ catalogue number 1001 describes tetradrachms with a portrait of Ptolemy I, a cornucopia symbol in reverse left field, and the legend ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΣΩTHPΩΣ. This category covers issues of more than one mint. They are partially disambiguated in Coinage of the Ptolemaic Empire (2018). The disambiguation is completed here. The present study also provides new information about patterns of die use and circulation, estimates the volume of the emissions, and considers their role in financing the Third Syrian War.

41 Donald T. Ariel. A Second Seleucid Coin Attributed to Jerusalem
After Antiochus VII Sidetes’ siege of Jerusalem was lifted (133 or 132 BCE), the first mint of bronze coins (SC 2123) in that city was inaugurated. Based upon the distribution of provenanced finds of another coin of that king (SC 2122), a second attribution to the mint is proposed. Analysis of the siege’s chronology makes it likely that the Jewish High Priest John Hyrcanus I, the Seleucid king’s vassal after the city’s capitulation, had a major role in minting both coins. The aniconic and non-figural iconography on the coins and numerous other numismatic considerations are garnered in support of this idea.

73 Yoav Farhi and Boris Bessarabov. The Bronze Coinage of Demetrias (by the Sea): New Types and a Comprehensive Catalogue
In this paper, the authors present previously unpublished bronze coins of Demetrias. The new coins are of the Tyche/Nike type, dated to years 1, 13 and 20; the two later dates are previously unknown years for the mint of Demetrias. The historical and numismatic context of the coins will be discussed, and the entire civic bronze coinage of Demetrias will be reviewed, accompanied by an updated catalogue of all known specimens.

91 Rachel Barkay. Depiction of Emperor Augustus on Coins of Aretas IV, King of the Nabateans
Aretas IV (c. 9 BCE–40 CE), the greatest king of the Nabateans, minted several different types of sela‘in in his first regnal year (Barkay 2017b:101, 105–106). Yet another type is now added, bearing the depiction of Emperor Augustus on the obverse. The reason for the large number of types and variants in regnal year one, as well as the unique phenomenon of the Emperor’s portrait, are explained against the background of the death of King Obodas II and Aretas’ struggle for power and Roman recognition.

97 Linda T. Zollschan. The Conclusion of the First Jewish Revolt: Interpreting IVDAEA RECEPTA
The aureus of Vespasian with the legend Iudaea recepta on the reverse illustrates Roman formalities for the conclusion of wars. Until now, Iudaea recepta was commonly interpreted either as meaning the recovery of Judaea or as an announcement of a return to the embrace of the [Roman] provincial system. However, Iudaea recepta indicates surrender, and the aureus with the legend Iudaea recepta thus commemorates the Roman acceptance of the unconditional surrender of the Jewish rebels in Jerusalem.

117 Nathan T. Elkins. Publicizing Victory: The Frequency and Audience of Flavian ‘Judaea Capta’ Coins from the Imperial Mints
Although the ‘Judaea Capta’ types are today among the most familiar imperial coin types, they are rare compared with the frequency of other numismatic images that circulated in Roman antiquity. A viewer in the provinces would seldom encounter the image of ‘Judaea Capta’ on coins as much as he would see images of Pax, Victoria, or another personification. Examination of find spots and frequencies of base-metal types that explicitly celebrated Roman victory in the first Jewish revolt indicates these coins were infrequent and targeted at the city of Rome. Denarii bearing ‘Judaea Capta’ reverses are also uncommon in hoards.

131 David Jacobson. The End of Agrippa II’s Rule, as Revealed by Coins
Numismatic evidence is presented for determining the year that marks the end of the reign of Agrippa II and dissolution of his kingdom. It is an issue over which there has been much passionate debate. The date obtained from this coin study is consistent with the chronological information furnished by ancient inscriptions and texts.

141 Lior Sandberg. The Coinage of Flavia Neapolis under Philip I — The Roman Connection
The coinage of Neapolis under Philip I (244–249 CE) is rich in detail and information. However, the question how all the topics on the coins relate to one another and form a single picture, has yet to be resolved. This article presents a new view of the subject and suggests that the coins, as official documents issued by the municipality, were issued in 247–249 CE in honor of a
festival held in the city in which two traditions converged: the neokorate and the celebration of the Roman era.

153 David Woods. A Note on Arab-Byzantine Coins of the Jāza Hādhā Type
Attention is drawn to the unnoticed occurrence of the Greek term ΚΛΟΝ on the reverse of some seventh-century Arab-Byzantine coins of the jāza hādhā type. The implications of the same for the dating and attribution of the two main subtypes within the larger jāza hādhā group are explored.

161 Nikolaus Schindel. Once Again: Countermarks on Umayyad Post-Reform Copper Coins
In a note from 2012, I addressed the comparatively rare phenomenon of countermarking of Umayyad post-reform copper coins. As a first preliminary result of a joint research project on Umayyad coins found in Israel, conducted between the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Austrian Academy of Sciences, some new insights into these countermarks are presented here, largely relying on provenanced material from excavations in Israel. While the most common type featuring an ‘A’ appears to be localized to the northern part of Bilad al-Sham, it seems that in the south as well (i.e., jund Filastin and ul-Urdunn) some rare
countermarks were applied.

169 Robert Kool, Nikolaus Schindel and Issa Baidoun. A New Assemblage of Cut Gold Fragments from the Crusader Period
This paper discusses an assemblage of 46 cut gold pieces from the Crusader period. The majority are cuttings of Fatimid dinars and quarter dinars (27 specimens), but there also 17 Frankish gold pieces and one fraction of an Abbasid and a Byzantine coin respectively. For the first time, detailed attributions of the Islamic component of this parcel are provided. While the findspot and integrity of this assemblage are unknown, a peculiar grayish patination indicates that most of the pieces share a common provenance.

193 Ira Rezak. A Rare Gold Theodor Herzl Medal
A rare and unusual medal struck in gold presents Theodor Herzl as a Moses-like figure contemplating the Holy Land from afar. This is most likely a commemorative tribute issued sometime after Herzl’s death in 1904. Also noteworthy is a flag featuring seven pentagonal stars arrayed in two rows in one field, with a second field displaying a conventional Magen David, an arrangement that is unlike all other known Zionist flag images. The relatively unsophisticated modeling of the figures and the unconventional flag suggests a Middle Eastern rather than a European locus of issue.