Judaea Capta coinage

Last updated
'Judea Capta' sestertius of Vespasian, struck in 71 AD to celebrate the victory in the Jewish Revolt. The inscription on the reverse says: IVDEA CAPTA
, "Judaea conquered". Sestertius - Vespasiano - Iudaea Capta-RIC 0424.jpg
'Judea Capta' sestertius of Vespasian, struck in 71 AD to celebrate the victory in the Jewish Revolt. The inscription on the reverse says: IVDEA CAPTA, "Judaea conquered".
Roman denarius depicting Titus, c. 79. The reverse commemorates his triumph in the Judaean wars, representing a captive kneeling in front of a trophy of arms. Titus Augustus Denarius.png
Roman denarius depicting Titus, c. 79. The reverse commemorates his triumph in the Judaean wars, representing a captive kneeling in front of a trophy of arms.
Aureus of Vespasian, IVDAEA DEVICTA Vespasien aureus Gallica 22125 revers.jpg
Aureus of Vespasian, IVDAEA DEVICTA
'Judaea Capta' coin issued by Agrippa II Agrippa-capta.jpg
'Judaea Capta' coin issued by Agrippa II

Judaea Capta coins (also spelled Judea Capta, and, on many of the coins, IVDAEA CAPTA) were a series of commemorative coins originally issued by the Roman Emperor Vespasian to celebrate the capture of Judaea and the destruction of the Second Jewish Temple by his son Titus in 70 CE during the First Jewish Revolt. There are several variants of the coinage. The reverse of the coins may show a female seated right in an attitude of mourning at the base of a palm tree, with either a captive bearded male standing left, with his hands bound behind his back, or the standing figure of the victorious emperor, or the goddess Victoria, with a trophy of weapons, shields, and helmets to the left.

Contents

At the bottom of some coins appear the initials SC which stand for Senatus Consulto 'by decree of the senate' - the emperor controlled gold and silver coins, and copper alloy coins were controlled by the senate to guarantee their value. [1] [2]

Inscription and imagery

The inscription appears in several versions, IUDAEA CAPTA ("Judaea [has been] conquered"/"conquered Judaea"), in rare cases the harsher IUDAEA DEVICTA or DEVICTA IUDAEA ("Judaea [has been] defeated"/"defeated Judaea"), and also DE IUDAEIS ("[the booty] from the Judaeans") and IUDAEA ("Judaea"). [3] [4] The inscription may also be in Greek, IOYΔAIAΣ EAΛΩKYIAΣ (Ioudaias Healōkyias), [5] a translation of the Latin IUDAEA CAPTA, or it may sometimes be absent, in which case the assessment on whether the coin belongs to the series is made based on the typical imagery used by the mint. [4]

The palm tree can appear on the coin either in combination with the mourning woman, or without her. [4] Andrea Moresino-Zipper contests that in the former case, it is the woman who symbolises the defeated Judaea and the towering, dominating palm stands for victorious Rome, while in the latter case the palm tree does represent Judaea. [4]

History

The Judaea Capta coins were struck for 25 years under Vespasian and his two sons who succeeded him as Emperor - Titus and Domitian. These commemorative coins were issued in bronze, silver and gold by mints in Rome, throughout the Roman Empire, and in Judaea itself. [6] They were issued in every denomination, and at least 48 different types are known. [7] [8]

Only bronze 'Judaea Capta' coins were struck in Caesarea, in the defeated Roman province of Judea. These coins are much cruder than the Roman issues, and the inscriptions are in Greek rather than Latin. The designs feature the goddess Nike writing on a shield, Minerva with a spear, shield, trophy and palm tree, etc. Most such coins were issued during the reign of the Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD). [6] [8]

Unusually, a 'Judaea Capta' coin was also minted by the Jewish ruler Agrippa II, the great-grandson of Herod the Great. Brought up in Rome at the court of Claudius, Agrippa was thoroughly Romanised and was a close friend of Titus, whom he supported throughout the First Jewish Revolt. His bronze coin was minted at Tiberias and shows a portrait of Titus on the obverse with the Greek inscription ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣ ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΤΙΤΟΣ (abbreviated for Καῖσαρ Σεβαστὸς Αυτοκράτωρ Τίτος, in Latin: Caesar Augustus Imperator Titus), while the reverse depicted the goddess Nike advancing right holding a wreath and palm branch over her shoulder, with a star in upper right field and the inscription 'ETO - KS BA AGRI-PPA'.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

AD 70 (LXX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Vespasian and Titus. The denomination AD 70 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titus</span> Roman emperor from AD 79 to 81

Titus Caesar Vespasianus was Roman emperor from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian upon his death, becoming the first Roman emperor to succeed his biological father.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herod Agrippa II</span> 1st-century Judean ruler

Herod Agrippa II, officially named Marcus Julius Agrippa and sometimes shortened to Agrippa, was the last ruler from the Herodian dynasty, reigning over territories outside of Judea as a Roman client. Agrippa II fled Jerusalem in 66, fearing the Jewish uprising and supported the Roman side in the First Jewish–Roman War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berenice (daughter of Herod Agrippa)</span> 1st century CE member of the Herodian Dynasty that ruled the Roman province of Judaea

Berenice of Cilicia, also known as Julia Berenice and sometimes spelled Bernice, was a Jewish client queen of the Roman Empire during the second half of the 1st century. Berenice was a member of the Herodian Dynasty that ruled the Roman province of Judaea between 39 BC and 92 AD. She was the daughter of King Herod Agrippa I and Cypros and a sister of King Herod Agrippa II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Jewish–Roman War</span> Rebellion against Roman rule (66–73 CE)

The First Jewish–Roman War, sometimes called the Great Jewish Revolt, or The Jewish War, was the first of three major rebellions by the Jews against the Roman Empire fought in Roman-controlled Judea, resulting in the destruction of Jewish towns, the displacement of its people and the appropriation of land for Roman military use, as well as the destruction of the Jewish Temple and polity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flavian dynasty</span> Roman imperial dynasty (r. AD 69–96)

The Flavian dynasty, lasting from AD 69 to 96, was the second dynastic line of emperors to rule the Roman Empire following the Julio-Claudians, encompassing the reigns of Vespasian and his two sons, Titus and Domitian. The Flavians rose to power during the civil war of AD 69, known as the Year of the Four Emperors; after Galba and Otho died in quick succession, Vitellius became emperor in mid 69. His claim to the throne was quickly challenged by legions stationed in the eastern provinces, who declared their commander Vespasian emperor in his place. The Second Battle of Bedriacum tilted the balance decisively in favor of the Flavian forces, who entered Rome on 20 December, and the following day, the Roman Senate officially declared Vespasian emperor, thus commencing the Flavian dynasty. Although the dynasty proved to be short-lived, several significant historic, economic and military events took place during their reign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewish–Roman wars</span> Series of revolts by the Jews against the Roman Empire between 66 and 135 CE

The Jewish–Roman wars were a series of large-scale revolts by the Jews of Judaea and the Eastern Mediterranean against the Roman Empire between 66 and 135 CE. The First Jewish–Roman War and the Bar Kokhba revolt were nationalist rebellions, striving to restore an independent Judean state, while the Kitos War was more of an ethno-religious conflict, mostly fought outside the province of Judaea. As a result, there is variation in the use of the term "Jewish-Roman wars." Some sources exclusively apply it to the First Jewish-Roman War and the Bar Kokhba revolt, while others include the Kitos War as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)</span> Siege in the First Jewish–Roman War

The siege of Jerusalem of 70 CE was the decisive event of the First Jewish–Roman War, in which the Roman army led by future emperor Titus besieged Jerusalem, the center of Jewish rebel resistance in the Roman province of Judaea. Following a five-month siege, the Romans destroyed the city and the Second Jewish Temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonius Felix</span> 1st century Roman politician and procurator of the Judea Province

Antonius Felix was the fourth Roman procurator of Judea Province in 52–60, in succession to Ventidius Cumanus. He appears in the New Testament in Acts 23 and 24, where the Apostle Paul is brought before him for a trial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judaea (Roman province)</span> Province of the Roman Empire (6–135 AD)

Judaea was a Roman province from 6 to 132 AD, which incorporated the Levantine regions of Judea, Samaria and Idumea, extending over parts of the former regions of the Hasmonean and Herodian kingdoms of Judea. The name Judaea was derived from the Iron Age Kingdom of Judah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judean date palm</span> Species of palm

The Judean date palm is a date palm grown in Judea. It is not clear whether there was ever a single distinct Judean cultivar, but dates grown in the region have had distinctive reputations for thousands of years, and the date palm was anciently regarded as a symbol of the region and its fertility. Cultivation of dates in the region almost disappeared after the 14th century AD from a combination of climate change and infrastructure decay but has been revived in modern times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucius Flavius Silva</span> 1st century AD Roman senator, commander and politician

Lucius Flavius Silva Nonius Bassus was a late-1st-century Roman general, governor of the province of Iudaea and consul. Silva was the commander of the army, composed mainly of the Legio X Fretensis, in 72 AD that laid siege to the near-impregnable mountain fortress of Masada, occupied by a group of Jewish rebels dubbed the Sicarii by Flavius himself. The siege ended in 73 AD with Silva's forces breaching the defenses of the Masada plateau and the mass suicide of the Sicarii, who preferred death to defeat or capture. Silva's actions are documented by 1st-century Jewish-Roman historian Josephus, the remains of a 1st-century Roman victory arch identified in Jerusalem in 2005, and the extensive earthworks at the Masada site, a monument to the high-water mark of Roman siege warfare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porcius Festus</span> Roman procurator of Judea, c. 59 to 62

Porcius Festus was the 5th procurator of Judea from about 59 to 62, succeeding Antonius Felix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herodian dynasty</span> Royal dynasty of Idumaean (Edomite) descent

The Herodian dynasty was a royal dynasty of Idumaean (Edomite) descent, ruling the Herodian Kingdom of Judea and later the Herodian Tetrarchy as a vassal state of the Roman Empire. The Herodian dynasty began with Herod the Great, who assumed the throne of Judea, with Roman support, bringing down the century-old Hasmonean Kingdom. His kingdom lasted until his death in 4 BCE, when it was divided among his sons and daughter as a tetrarchy, which lasted for about 10 years. Most of those tetrarchies, including Judea proper, were incorporated into Judaea Province from 6 CE, though limited Herodian de facto kingship continued until Agrippa I's death in 44 CE and nominal title of kingship continued until 92 CE, when the last Herodian monarch, Agrippa II, died and Rome assumed full power over his de jure domain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hasmonean coinage</span>

Hasmonean coinage are the coins minted by the Hasmonean kings. Only bronze coins in various denominations have been found; the smallest being a prutah or a half prutah. Two Roman silver denarii are associated with the Hasmoneans; one has the inscription BACCIVS IVDAEAS; with its exact meaning unclear (short for "BASILEOS IUDAEAS", King Judas?). Both show a man thought to be Yehuda Aristobolus bowing before a camel with a palm branch in his hand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bar Kokhba revolt coinage</span> Coins used by the Jewish rebel state during the Bar Kokhba revolt

Bar Kokhba revolt coinage were coins issued by the Judaean rebel state, headed by Simon Bar Kokhba, during the Bar Kokhba revolt against the Roman Empire of 132–135 CE.

The procuratorial coinage of Roman Judaea was minted by the prefects and procurators of the province between AD 6 and 66 in only one denomination and size, the bronze prutah. All the coins were minted in Jerusalem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Jewish Revolt coinage</span>

First Jewish Revolt coinage was issued by the Jews after the Zealots captured Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple from the Romans in 66 CE at the beginning of the First Jewish Revolt. The Jewish leaders of the revolt minted their own coins to emphasize their newly obtained independence from Rome.

Herodian coinage were coins minted and issued by the Herodian Dynasty, Jews of Idumean descent who ruled the province of Judaea between 37 BC–92 AD. The dynasty was founded by Herod the Great who was the son of Antipater, a powerful official under the Hasmonean King Hyrcanus II.

This article presents a timeline of the name Judea through an incomplete list of notable historical references to the name through the various time periods of the region.

References

  1. "How to read a Roman coin, from the Malpas and Knutsford hoards". National Museums Liverpool. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  2. "Coin Value: Ancient Rome Coins with S C Annotation 27BC to 376AD". coinquest.com. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  3. D. Bernard Hoenig, "The Other Side of the Coin: Israel answers ancient Rome's Judea Capta series with Liberata medals", Biblical Archaeology Review (BAR) 7:2, March/April 1981
  4. 1 2 3 4 Andrea Moresino-Zipper (2009). Gerd Theissen; et al. (eds.). Die Judaea-Capta-Münze und das Motiv der Palme. Römisches Siegessymbol oder Repräsentation Judäas? (The Judaea Capta coin and the image of the palm tree: Roman symbol of victory, or representation of Judaea?). Novum Testamentum et Orbis Antiquus/Studien zur Umwelt des Neuen Testaments (NTOA/StUNT) (Book 70) (in German). Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. pp. 61, 64–67. ISBN   9783525533901 . Retrieved 26 July 2018.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  5. Nili Ahipaz, The Coins from Herodium — the Tomb Area (Chapter 10), in Herodium: Final Reports of the 1972–2010 Excavations Directed by Ehud Netzer, Volume I: "Herod's Tomb Precinct", p. 423. Israel Exploration Society, Jerusalem 2015. ISBN   978-965-221-099-9.
  6. 1 2 Handbook of Biblical Numismatics p.15
  7. Howard Brin, Judaea Capta Coinage
  8. 1 2 See "Judaea Capta Coins Sheet - Domitian". Archived from the original on 2010-07-04. Retrieved 2010-07-01.