Jerusalem in Judaea, 69-70 AD., first Jewish revolt, 1/8 Shekel, Hendin 670.

Judaea, first Jewish revolt, Jerusalem mint, dated year 4 = 69-70 AD.,
Æ 1/8 Shekel (18-19 mm / 4,59 g), bronze, axes about medal alignment ↑↑ (ca. 340°),
Obv.: "L’Geulat Tziyon" - "לגאלת ציון" , ancient paleo-Hebrew script around Chalice with pearled rim ("LG’LT SYWN" "for the redemption of Zion").
Rev.: "Shnot ‘Arba’ah" - "שנת ארבע" , Lulav flanked by an etrog on either side, surrounded by paleo-Hebrew date ("SNT ‘RB’ RBY" "year four").
Hendin 4, 670 ; Meshorer AJC II 262, 30 ; TJC 214 .

"Jay G":
" According to David Hendin coins such as this example and others like it were the first "seige coins" ever minted (Guide to Biblical Coins, p. 249)
He goes on to say that "These coins were struck by the Jews beseiged in Jerusalem while the city was surrounded by the Roman army under Titus, not long before the destruction of Jerusalem itself."
As Meshorer writes "In the fourth year of the Jewish War, Jerusalem was also beset by a crisis,...The city's large population (estimated at 500,000-1,000,000) certainly continued to lead their daily lives, despite the difficulties, and holy worship at the Temple also continued in its regular routine, including the offering of sacrifices and the collection of the half-Shekel tribute....the main use of money was for secular needs, and for this purpose it was permissible to deviate and to mint 'ma'ahs of danger' (Jerusalem Talmud, Ma'aser Sheni, 52, 4) i.e., 'emergency coins', bronze substitutes for the silver shekels. They were used for ordinary trade and the leaders of the revolt were the guarantors of their value...." (A Treasury of Jewish Coins, p. 130). "