Rev. (sic) 16 My, second year of the deliverance of Israel.' AR 4.
As Simon did not enter Jerusalem until the third year (Joseph. Bell. iv. 9. 2), some objection may be raised to classing coins to him dated the second year.' But he may have struck coins in Acrabattine or Hebron, or some part of Idumxa where he had established a firm footing (Levy, yid p. 119) ; moreover, it is curious that no coins Simon have been discovered with dates higher than the year two ;' which fully agrees with the time of his government in Jerusalem, which did not extend more than two years, A.D. 69 and 7o. The coins, then, which bear the legend the deliverance of Jerusalem,' and are without a date, belong to the first year of his entry into Jerusalem, whilst those of his second year have the legend (Levy, 1. c.) The attribution of the shekels with the star over the temple to Simon, son of Gioras, as I have already observed, is not free from objections. (See below, under Bar-cochab).
StmoN, son of Gamaliel.—To Simon, son of the famous Gamaliel, the Beauty of the Law,' Levy has assigned all the coins with the legend pnw ton, 'Simon, prince of Israel.' This
Simon was, at this time, the head of the Jewish Sanhedrim, and, conformably with his position, bore the title of ' Nasi.' All the coins which have this title are only of copper ; and if we assume as correct the attribution of the shekels with on the obverse to Eleazar, then the senate of Israel may in this respect have imitated the Roman, who reserved to themselves the copper coinage' (Levy, 7iid. Miinzen, p. 97). To the same supreme authority are ascribed the small copper coins of the years 2 and 3 of the deliverance of Zion, which correspond in fabric and weight with those of Nero of the year 5, struck at Jerusalem. The inscription 11'V, Zion,' on these coins is remark. able, as differing from the other coins of Nero's revolt. It occurs on the coins of Simon Mac cabwus, but not in connection with nrm, which is peculiar to the period of the revolts.