The Jewish Tax

236, Lot: 453. Estimate $1500. Sold for $1300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Nerva. AD 96-98. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 23.78 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 96. Laureate head right / FISCI IVDAICI CALVMNIA SVBLATA, S-C across fields, Palm tree. RIC II 58. Good Fine, tan patina with a hint of green, small nick before nose, some minor scratches and roughness.

Ex Freeman & Sear MBS 15 (27 June 2008), lot 349; Gans List 18, 1956, lot 4233.

The legend on the reverse of this sestertius refers to Nerva's ending the practice of 'false accusation' used to collect the Jewish tax. Under Domitian, the collection of this tax was harshly enforced. Those who appeared to follow Jewish customs but did not acknowledge being Jews were prosecuted or condemned for godlessness. Nerva did not repeal the tax but limited the abuses in collecting it.