JUDAEA, Neapolis. Antoninus Pius. 138-161 CE. Æ (34mm, 24.18 g, 12h). Dated CY 88 (160/1 CE). Near VF.

Keystone 17 – The W. Toliver Besson Collection
Lot: 186. Estimated: $ 200

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 425. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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JUDAEA, Neapolis. Antoninus Pius. 138-161 CE. Æ (34mm, 24.18 g, 12h). Dated CY 88 (160/1 CE). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Mount Gerizim with two peaks; between, ravine with sloping roadway; left peak with temple in perspective; to right, steep stairway with shrines attached; right peak with shrine on top and trees at base; colonnade before with open gateway; ЄT ΠH (date) in exergue. RPC IV.3 Online 10934; cf. Kropp, Roman, Fig. 11 (rev.); Rosenberger 9; Sofaer 20. Earthen brown surfaces, smoothing, details enhanced. Near VF.

From the W. Toliver Besson Collection. Ex Shoshana Collection (Part I, Heritage 3018, 5 September 2012), lot 20420.

The modern day city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, Neapolis was located in a strategic position between Mts. Ebal and Gerizim, the latter of which figured prominently on its coinage. This mountain, sacred to the Samaritans, was believed to have been the location chosen by Yahweh for a holy temple rather than the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, some 40 miles south. The Samaritan shrine on Gerizim can be clearly seen on this bronze of Antoninus Pius, together with the staircases leading up to it. However, the original temple was destroyed by the Hasmonean king John Hyrcanus in 112-111 BCE, so the shrine seen here seems to be a retrospective view, like that of the Jerusalem temple façade seen on coins of the Bar Kochba Revolt.

Closing Date and Time: 22 July 2026 at 11:01:40 ET.



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