Jewish History Nerds is a Signal Awards finalist. Vote for us in Listener’s Choice by Thu 15 Oct: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/history
What can a coin tell us about history, power, and identity? Jonathan Schwab and Yael Steiner read history in metal, tracing the Roman Judaea Capta coins—tiny discs of imperial propaganda stamped with victory goddesses, palm trees, and a weeping Judean woman meant to broadcast conquest with every transaction. From Vespasian’s bid for legitimacy to Israel’s 1958 Israel Liberata coins that mirror and overturn the ancient design, they follow how numismatics became a millennia-long dialogue—turning symbols of subjugation into emblems of autonomy, endurance, and reclaimed identity.
Be in touch. Write to us at nerds@unpacked.media. We want to hear from you.
Click here for a summary and sources referenced in the episode.
Click here for images of the Judea Capta Coins.
Click here to see images of the Israel Liberata Coin.
This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a brand of OpenDor Media.
Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube.
——————-
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
