139 293 SILVER COIN OF HADRIAN. Denomination: Denarius. $800-1200 ❧ Hadrian was Emperor during the Bar Kochba revolt. At the start of the Revolt Rabbi Akiva believed Bar Kochba would be the Moshiach. Hadrian however was successful in putting down the revolt. The silver coins of Emperors Hadrian and Trajan are stated by the Talmud to originate from the silver of the Beth Hamikdosh. The Talmud in Trac. Bechoroth f. 50a recounts that the Roman Treasury was almost depleted of silver and therefore Hadrian ordered the silver coins belonging to the Beth Hamikdosh to be confiscated, melted down and used to issue coins with his image on it and for broad usage. The Talmud asks whether it is permitted to use gold and silver since so much of it is derived from the Beth Hamikdosh. The Talmud concludes, based on a verse in the Book of Yechezkel, that in fact there is no continued sanctity to these coins. 294 SILVER COIN OF MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS. Denomination: Denarius. $500-750 ❧ Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (121-180 CE) was Roman emperor from 161-180. His mother saved the life of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel and family after they illegally made a bris for their son Yehudah HaNassi (see Tosfos Avodah Zara f. 10b). Yehudah HaNassi and Antoninus became close friends (see Encyclopedia LeChachmei HaTalmud VehaGeonim Vol. 2 p.178). In fact, the Gemora asserts that the Jewish Nation had no better time under Roman rule than in the era of Antoninus. The Emperor’s appreciation of R. Yehudah HaNassi took the form of the finest gifts, tracts of land (Yer. Sheb. vi. 36d), even sacks of gold (Ab. Zarah, 10b). 295 SILVER COIN OF TRAJAN. Denomination: Denarius. $700-1000 ❧ Trajan is referred to in the Talmud as Traiana Malka (Bechoroth f. 50a). Silver used to strike this coin stemmed from the Beth Hamikdash. Denarii of Trajan are mentioned in the Talmud (Avoda Zarah f. 52b). Trajan, was Roman Emperor from 98-117. Like Vespasian, Titus and Hadrian, he is frequently mentioned by Jewish writers and exercised a profound influence upon the history of the Jews throughout Babylonia, Palestine and the Hellenistic Diaspora (JE).