Coin of Bar Kokhba, Year 2 c. 133 - 134

Editor: This is a "Coin of Bar Kokhba, Year 2," made by Bar Kochba. The weight is 10.17g. It's incredible to consider the hands that this coin has passed through. What can you tell me about its creation? Curator: Given its materiality, consider the socio-political context of this coin. The very act of minting currency was a declaration of autonomy, a challenge to Roman economic control. What does the imagery—the palm tree, the inscriptions—tell us about the priorities and aspirations driving the Bar Kokhba revolt? Editor: So, it’s less about artistic expression and more about production as resistance? That's a fascinating perspective. Curator: Precisely. The coin becomes a tool, a material declaration of independence forged in the midst of conflict. Editor: Thanks, I hadn't considered coins as tools of resistance before!