Much Can Be Seen in Little
Rare Jewish coins hold academic significance
By Nicole St. Pierre
Spring 2005
Alumni and friends gathered at the home of USC Trustee Alan Casden and
his wife Susan, a member of the USC College Board of Councilors, on
Oct. 4, 2004, to view a rare collection of 35 ancient Jewish coins. The
event was co-hosted by USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences.
Despite their small size—some only seven millimeters across—the coins
reveal great insights about the culture when Judaism was in its
formative period. “The timeline of the coin exhibition traced the
struggle for Jewish freedom,” says Casden, who has been an avid
collector since he first visited Jerusalem in the 1960s. “Each
coin tells a story.”
Rare Jewish coins with detailed inscriptions are not only a favorite
among collectors and history buffs like Casden, but are used by
scholars at USC and beyond to understand better the culture, political
systems and artistry of the past. Although once primarily economic
objects, today their value has greater meaning, says Casden. “It is
under-standing who made them, handled them and labored for them.”
Casden, who endowed the USC Casden Institute for the Study of the
Jewish Role in American Life, has more than 1,500 ancient coins in his
collection.
“Today, the study of Jewish life is thriving at USC College,” says Dean
Joseph Aoun. “These objects of rarity place essential information into
the hands of USC historians, archaeologists, art historians,
classicists— and their students who study the ancient world.”
At the event, USC President Steven B. Sample spoke about how the
Casdens are true catalysts for enhancing our understanding of the
world. “USC benefits not only from Alan’s commitment to advancing the
study of real estate, business, Jewish history and ancient
civilizations, but also from Susan’s commitment to promoting artistic
development, Asian cultural studies and Pacific Rim initiatives.”
On display was Alan Casden’s favorite coin: a Year One silver shekel; the first Jewish coin ever minted.
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