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Judea Coin
Brings $83,375 at Goldbergs
By World Coin News
The Ira and Larry Goldberg
Auctioneers ancient and world coin sale held
Oct. 29-30 realized $2,453,128 with a Judeaen
bronze of the Bar Kokhba War series bringing in
$83,375.
The coin is from the Bar Kokhba War, 132-135 C.E.
It measures 32.5mm and weighs 21.19 grams. It is
dated Year Two, struck 133/134 C.E. The obverse
features a filleted olive wreath and Palaeo-Hebrew
inscription in two lines within (“Shim’on”). The
reverse shows a twin-handled, fluted amphora;
Palaeo-Hebrew inscription around (“Year two of
the freedom of Israel”). The catalog described
it as smooth, blackish dark green patina, with
occasional lighter dusky coloring. “An
extraordinary coin in all aspects – strike,
flan, metal, style, and preservation. Without a
doubt, the finest of its type. Very rare. NGC
graded Extremely Fine.”
A gold stater from the Kingdom of the Cimmerian
Bosporos, Pharnakes II, 63-47 B.C.E., realized
$63,250.
It was struck by the Panticapaeum mint in 53/52
B.C.E. The obverse features a diademed bust of
Pharnakes right, with luxuriant hair. On the
reverse is Apollo, semi-draped, seated left on a
lion-footed throne, holding a laurel branch. The
catalog describes it as “Lustrous. Exemplary,
sensitive portrait – among the finest in this
series. Very Rare. NGC graded About
Uncirculated.”
Pharnakes is little known to history. He was son
of Rome’s enemy, Mithradates VI, “the Great,”
forced his father to commit suicide in 64 B.C.E.
to placate the Roman general Pompey, who had
surrounded Pharnakes’ citadel at Panticapaeum.
In compensation Pompey granted Pharnakes the
title King of the Bosporus.
With the death of the Armenian king Tigranes II,
the Great, in 55/4 B.C.E, Pharnakes sensed
opportunity at reclaiming some of the vast
empire created by his father. He quickly threw
in his lot with Pompey when civil war broke out
between Caesar and Pompey in 49 B.C.E. His
initial military successes in the area
evaporated with Caesar marching north into Asia
Minor in 48 B.C.E., in order to restore the
situation and avenge Roman losses. Pharnakes’
army proved no match against Caesar’s troops at
the battle of Zela, in mid-47 B.C.E., and were
quickly routed. Thus Caesars’ “Veni, Vedi,
Vinci” – one of the more famous literary quips
to survive from antiquity.
There are approximately 25 known Pharnakes gold
coins, ranging in date from c. 55-50 B.C.E.,
with 10 in museum collections. The famed Hunt
specimen, with nearly as fine a portrait, but of
a somewhat lower grade (Extremely Fine),
realized $48,300 A complete list of prices
realized can be viewed at www.goldbergcoins.com.
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