Coin from end of Great Revolt excavated near Temple Mount

NUMISMATICS: 'Coin of Despair' From End of Jewish Revolt Against Rome Found in Jerusalem. Earlier Jewish coins from the revolt period called for the liberation of Zion. This one found near Temple Mount called for 'redemption,' months before besieged Jerusalem fell to the Romans (Ruth Schuster, Haaretz).

The switch to "redemption" indicates a change in mindset, and likely reflects the desperate situation of the rebel forces about six months before Jerusalem would finally fall to the Romans again on Tisha B'Av, the 9th day of Av, which is commemorated as a tragedy to this day, explains the excavation director Yuval Baruch.

Cross-file under Temple Mount Watch.

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