SHIMON BAR-KOKHBA WITH AMPHORA JAR

Bar Kokhba Revolt coins were issued by the Judean rebel state, headed by Simon Bar Kokhba, during the revolt against the Roman Empire of 132-135 CE. During this period, large quantities of coins were minted in silver and bronze with rebellious inscriptions, all being overstruck over foreign — mostly Roman — coins. “Coins from the period of the Bar Kokhba Revolt, which declared the rebels’ purpose — to liberate Jerusalem from Roman occupation after the destruction of the city — are well-known in archeology. “It is interesting to note that the rebels minted these revolt coins on Roman regime coins with stripped or damaged faces, possibly out of defiance of the Roman occupation.” “The revolt coins featured the Temple facade, trumpets, a harp/violin, as well as the inscriptions: ‘Redemption of Israel’ and ‘Freedom of Israel’.”