July 12, 2012 – In 1976, Mel Wacks wrote the Handbook of Biblical Numismatics. Since then, this introductory reference work has been published on Kindle and is available free of charge on the Internet as part of The Jewish Museum. Wacks catalogs 138 coins in 24 chapters including “First Judaean Coins (4th Century BCE),” “Widow’s Mite (30 CE),” “First Revolt (66-70 CE),” and “Arabs In The Holy Land (c. 650-1094 CE).” Each of these coins is pictured, and there is a newly added concordance of Wacks numbers, old Hendin numbers, and new Hendin numbers, corresponding to the fifth edition of David Hendin’s “Guide to Biblical Coins.”
The most valuable ancient Judaean coin: Wacks 60/Hendin 1352 (silver shekel prototype of First Revolt, 66/67 CE), courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
Another new addition to the Handbook of Biblical Numismatics on the Internet is a table of coin values – ranging from $155 for a Good VF example of Wacks 31/Hendin 1197 (bronze prutah of Herod Archelaus, 4 BCE-6 CE) to $1,105,375 for a Good EF specimen of Wacks 60/Hendin 1352 (silver shekel prototype of First Revolt, 66/67 CE) – based on the comprehensive Shoshana Collection of Ancient Judaean Coins, auctioned March 8-9, 2012 by Heritage Auctions.
Visit the Jewish Museum in Cyberspace.
There you will also find Mel Wacks’ complete book on “Biblical coins”.
Are you interested in the history and coinage of ancient Judaea? Did you take a look at our archive section Ancient coins / Judaea, yet? You will find intriguing articles written by expert David Hendin and more.