David Hendin, Guide to Biblical Coins

Abstract

The much-anticipated sixth edition of Guide to Biblical Coins is now published. It has been 45 years since David Hendin, a leading authority on ancient Judean and Roman coins, first undertook to provide a guide for coins associated with the biblical world, and it has been a decade since the appearance of the fifth edition (2010). Each edition over the years has provided incremental improvement over the previous editions, and this latest edition is no exception. Both in the text and bibliography, this edition illustrates updated research in history, archeology, and numismatic studies. It also includes the addition of new coin images and photographs while excising others. At the heart of the Guide to Biblical Coins is the presentation of over 2000 coin illustrations and photographs (chaps. 3–8). Each coin is listed with details based on the issuing authority, metal (gold, silver, bronze), denomination, and the image description and inscription located on the obverse and reverse. The coins are organized chronologically beginning with the Persian period to the Roman period under Emperor Hadrian. Special chapters are dedicated to coinage related to the Jewish War (chap. 9) and the Bar Kokhba revolt (chap. 10). Additional chapters highlight Judean connections to the Roman republic and Roman imperial coinage (chap. 11), New Testament coins (chap. 12), and miscellaneous connected biblical coins (chap. 13). The foundation for these chapters is laid in chapter 1. It provides background information on various aspects of ancient coins, such as terms, production, distribution, fakes, dating, worth, and conservation. As is evident by the various chapters in Hendin’s work, he has a broad definition for what constitutes “biblical” coins. This broad definition is a plus for setting the numismatic context of the biblical world. The referencing system for the coin entries in the sixth edition is different from that in the fifth edition (and any previous editions). To assist readers who are familiar with previous editions, the author has conveniently provided in the “Concordance” a key for coordinating the current referencing system with previous ones (pp. 535–56). In addition to reference entries on biblical coins, brief overviews on rulers, dynasties, historical periods, and select symbols found on coins are also interlaced throughout the book. Often these probes into specific symbols provide for fruitful reflection upon the meaning being conveyed to a larger original audience. Of special interest for biblical studies are the symbols on the Hasmonean dynastic coinage (pp. 147–57) and the Herodian coinage (pp. 185–89). The revisions in this edition are many; some are small, and some are large, but all provide an improved guidebook for the reader. These revisions are just a few examples. First, the monetary values associated with each coin have been eliminated in favor of describing each coin in relationship to its rarity (p. xix). Beside the difficulty of fixing a value in dollars for an ancient coin, this revision moves the coins away from being an object to collect for its monetary value to an artifact of historical worth. Second, both the text and the expanded bibliography (pp. 502–33) reflect updated research and new theories. For example, in previous editions, the identity of the name Eleazar, as found on Bar Kokhba revolt coinage (132–136 C.E.), was theorized as a reference to a 1171782 RAE0010.1177/00346373231171782Review & ExpositorBook Reviews book-review2023