Coin (Gaster Amulet 55A)

This large bronze coin likely dates to the Bar Kokhba revolt, which took place from 132 to 135 CE. The central image shows the front of the Temple in Jerusalem. It features four columns and a peaked roof. Inside the doorway is a representation of the Ark of the Covenant or a shrine used for holding Torah scrolls. A beaded border and an inscription in ancient Paleo-Hebrew script surround the temple facade.

Bar Kokhba revolt: A major Jewish rebellion against the Roman Empire led by Simon bar Kokhba.

Second Temple: The holy temple in Jerusalem that served as the center of Jewish worship until its destruction by Romans in 70 CE.

Jerusalem: The holy city and the capital of Judea. It was a primary symbol of the Jewish struggle for independence.

Paleo-Hebrew: An ancient form of the Hebrew script. It was used in the era of the First Temple and revived on coins during the Jewish revolts to show a connection to the ancient past.

Ark of the Covenant: A sacred chest described in the Bible that held the stone tablets of the law.

Numismatics: The study and collection of coins and currency.