Simon Bar Kochba-Prince of Israel-The Second Jewish Revolt 

Denomination:  Uncertain (AE 25)       

Date:  Year 2 of the Revolt (134 - 135 CE)

Description:  

 Obverse: "Shimon," kithara with three strings - (lyre.)

Reverse: "For the freedom of Jerusalem," palm in wreath.

The symbols often used on the reverse of these coins are associated with the Temple - palm branch, amphora, bunch of grapes, lyre and trumpets The Jewish leader's name and title surround the wreath: "Shimon Prince of Israel," while a patriotic and religiously significant motto is inscribed on the reverse.

In the fall of 131 CE the Jews in Israel declared war against the Romans for the second time. Their military leader was Simon Bar Kochba, meaning "Son of the Star" and their spiritual leader Rabbi Akiba. Learning from the Romans, Simon used his coinage as propaganda for their cause, with inscriptions that were meant to keep hope alive and call for "The Redemption of Israel," "The Freedom of Jerusalem," and some declare Simon Bar Kochba the "Prince of Israel." Letters written by Bar Cochba on the coin have been discovered in the Dead Sea caves. They indicate that the Jewish leader had an important base at En-Geddi.  Those coins were over-struck on Roman coins, thus obscuring the images of Rome with symbols of a free Israel. Ultimately the war was disastrous for the people of Israel, as ancient sources tell us more than one million people died, and nearly one thousand villages were burned to the ground. Simon was among the thousands who perished.