Middel bronze - Simeon bar Kosevah Year One

Struck in the first year of the Bar Kokhba revolt against Rome, this coin is among the most politically charged issues in ancient Jewish numismatics. Simon bar Kosiba — whom Rabbi Akiva called bar Kokhba, "son of a star" — proclaimed himself Nasi of Israel and launched what would become the last major Jewish uprising in Judea, lasting until 135 AD when Roman forces under Hadrian crushed the rebellion and banned Jews from Jerusalem entirely. The revolt is thought to have been triggered in part by Hadrian's plan to refound Jerusalem as a Roman colony, Aelia Capitolina.

Year One issues were almost certainly struck on overstruck Roman provincial bronzes, the insurgents working with whatever metal they could seize.