Early Islamic (Umayyad) bronze coin minted in Jerusalem, ca. 696 ce, with 5-branched menorah and Arabic inscription : "Aliya, Madinet Bayit al-Maqdis" = "Aliya" is from Aelia Capitolina (the Roman emperor Hadrian's new name for Jerusalem, ca 135 ce; post BarKokhva), plus 'city of the Temple'. Although there had not been a Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount since 70 ce (600 years), the new Islamic rulers knew what Jerusalem had been famous for : it's Jewish Temple, and the symbol of that Temple was the Menorah. Under Islamic rule, Jews were allowed back into Jerusalem, a city that had been forbidden to them since Hadrian and during most of the Byzantine period, under punishment of death.

Materials:  Bronze
Item Type:  Coin
Region:  Israel
Cultural Origin:  Islamic
Era:  Islamic Period,
ca. 638-1300 ce
Condition:  Fine

Tags: 638-1300 ce, Cultural Origin: Islamic, Era: Islamic Period, Materials: Bronze, Region: Israel

11 December 2009 in Coins