Sword Star, seen over Jerusalem 70 AD

Notice the cross motif on the reverse of the above coin from Gadara. Titus is on the obverse. The double cornucopias or perhaps shofars are on the reverse. The cross symbol is surrounded by dots likely representing stars. This coin was minted in Gadara in the Decapolis in 73 AD after the Roman victory at Masada. Titus is obviously referring to the sword star mentioned by the 1st century historian Josephus which was seen during the siege of Jerusalem. The Romans as well as the Jews were looking for justification from the heavens for their actions on Earth. This coin is yet another example the Romans were astronomically aware and that Josephus was correct in his writings.

"Thus were the miserable people persuaded by these deceivers, and such as belied God himself; while they did not attend nor give credit to the signs that were so evident, and did so plainly foretell their future desolation, but, like men infatuated, without either eyes to see or minds to consider, did not regard the denunciations that God made to them. Thus there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet, that continued a whole year."

There is an obvious Christian implication from the coin. The star is not a sword but a cross. One of the last heavenly signs seen at the Temple was a cross in the night sky. This was a last ditch plea from God for Jerusalem to accept the blood and sacrifice of His only Son Jesus Christ for transgressions of Israel. The Jewish War had the unintentional effect of consolidating and enriching the Roman Empire after its civil wars. It is quite possible the Roman Empire would have continued to fractionate and fall apart if the Jewish Rebellion would not have occurred.

Josephus, The Jewish War Book 6 Chapter 5:3

Photo Pars Coins