BAR KOCHBA

State Medal, 1961

Silver 935, Weight: 30gr. Diameter: 35mm. Mintage: 4700.

In 1960, an archaeological expedition working in caves in the Judean desert overlooking the Dead Sea, discovered a bundle of papyrus, containing letters written by Simon Bar Kochba. Between 132 and 135 AD Bar Kochba led the the second Jewish revolt against the Romans. The Bar Kochba letters are viewed by archaeologists and historians as documents of major historical significance. Professor Yigal Yadin, who led the expedition (and was also in charge of the Massada excavations) later gave an account of the discovery of the Bar Kochba letters in his work "Bar-Kochba": "From a crevice in a canyon near the Dead Sea where it had lain for almost two thousand years came a woman's bag. From the bag came a fragile bundle of papyri inside which were wrapped four wooden slats. And as the excited archaeologists stared incredulously at the strips of wood, one name blazed out at them ... Bar-Kochba."
 
In the middle of the medal's obverse is an incuse in the form of an opening to a cave. Against the backdrop of the Judean desert an archaeologist is hauling up his colleague on a rope ladder.
On its reverse, in the incused center, a bundle of Bar Kochba's letters is depicted. Below is (somewhat altered rendition of) a coin from the Bar Kochba era, showing a palm tree. The inscription in ancient Hebrew around the upper rim reads "Simon Bar Kochba - President of Israel".

This item was Issued by Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation Ltd.

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