Coin Hoarding in Roman Palestine: 63 BC–AD 300

Abstract

Chapter 9 presents select observations about the coin hoards of Roman Palestine, specifically those from the early Roman (63 BC–AD 73) and middle Roman (AD 73–300) periods. A dramatic increase in the number of known hoards dated to the First Jewish Revolt (AD 66–70/3) and the Bar Kokhba Revolt (AD 132–6) provides evidence of the correlation between concentrations of hoards and periods of violence. The high frequency of confirmed and probable Bar Kokhba Revolt hoards reflects the destructive force of the Roman army in Palestine and the difficulty of hoard recovery in the remote and inaccessible caves of the Judaean Desert. There is a dearth of hoards dated between 136 and 217. By 250–75, radiates were the most commonly hoarded coins and the increased hoarding in this period was probably influenced by the reforms of Aurelian in 274.