Judaea First Revolt – Hand-Struck Silver Shekel Replica (Year 1)

Overview & Craftsmanship

This Judaea First Revolt AR Shekel is a modern, hand-struck sterling silver replica inspired by the ancient Jewish silver shekel struck in the first year of the First Jewish–Roman War (66–67 CE) at Jerusalem under the authority of the rebel Judean provisional government during the historic uprising against Roman rule — a distinctive and culturally significant denomination known today from only a limited number of surviving ancient examples. Each piece is individually hammered in solid silver using traditional striking methods, producing irregular flans, varied relief, and surface character comparable to ancient originals.

Unlike cast or machine-pressed copies, hand-struck replicas retain the depth, texture, and individuality characteristic of ancient coinage.

Historical & Numismatic Background

• A rare ancient silver shekel minted by the Jewish people during the First Jewish-Roman War, also known as the Great Revolt or ha-Mered Ha-Gadol. Struck in the Holy city of Jerusalem during the first year of the conflict (66/67 AD), shortly before the destruction of the Second Temple.
• In 66 AD the tiny Jewish nation of Judaea rebelled against the oppressive might of the Roman Empire. One of the very first acts of the Jewish people was to begin the production of their first precious metal coinage, a defiant statement of independence. These incredibly poignant and wondrously tactile pieces of silver serve as an unmistakable proclamation of the Jewish desire for sovereignty and for the preservation of their identity.
• The high purity silver coins were struck for just five years, each dated with the year of the rebellion, in this case year one. They were overstruck on the Tyrian shekels taken from the Temple treasury itself, replacing the old nationalistic Tyrian symbols and legends, “Tyre the Holy and the Inviolable” with the new legends, ‘Shekel of Israel’ ‘Jerusalem the Holy’.
• More than just a coin, this artefact pays testimony to the struggle of the Jewish people to preserve their religion and culture in the face of great adversity.

Numismatic References:

This replica is inspired by ancient issues documented in standard numismatic references, including:

– Hendin 1353

– Meshorer Treasury 240, 184f

– Deutsch pl. 9, dies 3 & 8

Technical Details & Variations

Type: Judaea First Revolt shekel year 1 replica

Denomination represented: AR shekel

Authority / Mint: Jerusalem

Era represented: 66-67 CE

Material: Sterling silver (AR)

Weight: 13.69gr

Dimensions: 25.1mm

Manufacturing method: Hand-struck (hammered)

Obverse: ‘Shekel of Israel’ in Palaeo-Hebrew, around a ritual chalice

Reverse: ‘Jerusalem the Holy’ in Palaeo-Hebrew, around a branch with three pomegranates

Due to the traditional hand-striking process, variations in weight, diameter, strike, and surface are expected.

Availability & Variations

When listed as “Add to Cart,” the coin shown in the photographs is the exact piece you will receive.

When listed as “Order Now,” the coin will be hand-struck to order. Each newly struck piece will differ slightly in appearance, reflecting the traditional minting process.

Intended Use

Suitable for:

– collectors of ancient and historical coinage

– academic or educational reference

– museum or exhibition display

– historically accurate reenactment

– high-quality numismatic gifts

Replica Disclaimer

This item is a modern, hand-struck replica inspired by ancient coinage. It is not an original ancient coin.