The massive Shoshana Collection of Judean coins was 40 years in the making. With examples from 500 BC to the Islamic conquests 1100 years later, it’s probably the pre-eminent archive of coins related to the foundation of ancient Israel. When Heritage auctions the 702-lot collection next month in New York, a sure highlight is likely to be a Protype Year One Shekel from 66-70 AD. One of only two known examples, it’s estimated at a very contemporary $950,000.Another featured item is a quarter-Shekel struck during the first year of the Jewish War, 66/67 AD. Possibly because of the war, few of these coins were produced and only two remain—the other is in a private collection in Israel. At the March 3rd event, this one will carry an estimate of $850,000.
