Back of one of the first shekels minted in Jerusalem after Jewish rebels ousted the ancient Romans sold in New York for a record $1.1 million. (Courtesy Heritage Auctions)

Front of one of the first shekels minted in Jerusalem after Jewish rebels ousted the ancient Romans sold in New York for a record $1.1 million. (Courtesy Heritage Auctions)

NEW YORK, March 9 (UPI) -- One of the first shekels minted in Jerusalem after Jewish rebels ousted the ancient Romans sold in New York for a record $1.1 million, an auctioneer said.

The silver shekel is one of only two specimens known, Heritage Auctions said. It was sold Thursday night as part of an auction of coins from the Shoshana Collection, which spans more than 11 centuries.


The buyer was identified as Steve Rubinger, president of Antiqua Ancient Art & Numismatics in Woodland Hills, Calif., who purchased it on behalf of a private East Coast collector.

The Shoshana Collection, consisting of more than 2,200 coins from a private collector, is expected to raise more than $10 million in multiple auctions this year.

The shekel was struck shortly after the Jewish War began in the year A.D. 66, the auction company said.

"This is literally one of the very first coins the Jewish rebels struck after the ousted the Romans from Jerusalem, sending shock waves through the empire," Cris Bierrenbach of Heritage Auctions said.