| Greek Domination of Judaea and Palestine |  |
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| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy III Euergetes, 246 - 222 B.C. |   | Ptolemy III Euergetes promoted the translation of Jewish scriptures into Greek as the Septuagint. Due to a falling out at the Seleucid court, his eldest sister Berenice Phernophorus was murdered along with her infant son. In response he invaded Syria, occupied Antioch and even reached Babylon. This war, the Third Syrian War, is cryptically alluded to in Daniel XI 7-9. |
| GP59593. Bronze hemidrachm, Svoronos 965, SNG Cop 173, aVF, weight 35.130 g, maximum diameter 34.1 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, obverse horned head of Zeus Ammon right, wearing taenia; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, filleted cornucopia left, chi-rho between eagle's legs; $165.00 (€127.05) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Berenike II, c. 244 - 221 B.C., Wife of Ptolemy III |  | Berenice II was the wife of Ptolemy III Euergetes, the third ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt. Her first husband was a Macedonian prince, Demetrius the Fair. After he took her mother as a lover, she had him killed in her mother's bedroom. Afterwards she married Ptolemy III. Berenice competed, as a horse owner, in the Olympics and the Nemean Games. Soon after her husband's death, she was murdered at the instigation of her son Ptolemy IV. Nevertheless, for the cult of the newly deified queen he issued a decree requiring that men and women singers were to sing all day in front of her statue. |
GP58540. Bronze AE 12, Svoronos 1057 (Gaza or Joppa), BMC Ptolemies p. 61, 21; Malter 143; SNG Cop -; SNG Milan; Weiser -; Noeske -, VF, weight 1.718 g, maximum diameter 11.6 mm, die axis 90o, Gaza or Joppa mint, c. 244 - 221 B.C.; obverse BEREN BASIL, bust of Queen Berenike II right; reverse PTOL BASIL, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, head left, EU left; rare; $180.00 SALE PRICE $162.00 |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy IV Philopator, 221 - 204 B.C. |  | A massive Ptolemaic bronze! Recently reattributed by C. Lorber as among earlier drachm types of Ptolemy IV. |
| GP41148. Bronze drachm, Svoronos 1126, Weiser 51 (Ptolemy II, 253 - 249 B.C.), SNG Cop 219, SNG Milan 212, Hosking 39, Noeske -, VF, weight 68.707 g, maximum diameter 42.2 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, obverse horned head of Zeus Ammon right, wearing taenia; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, head left, filleted cornucopia left, LI between legs; $160.00 (€123.20) ON RESERVE |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285 - 246 B.C., Sidon, Phoenicia |  | Sidon is mentioned by the prophets Isaiah (e.g. Isaiah 23:2,4,12), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:22, 27:3, 47:4), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 27:8, 28:21, 32:30) and Joel (Joel 3:4). Jesus visited Sidon on (Matthew 15:21, Mark 3:8, Mark 7:24, Luke 6:17). Paul sailed for Rome from Sidon (Acts 27:3,4). |
| GP59530. Silver tetradrachm, Svoronos 713; SNG Cop 506; Noeske 98; SNG Milan 141, BMC Ptolemies p. 27, 32; Hosking -; Malter -, F, punches, scratches, weight 13.978 g, maximum diameter 25.6 mm, die axis 0o, Sidon mint, 266 - 265 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Ptolemy I right; reverse eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, head left, SI left; $160.00 (€123.20) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy IV Philopator, 221 - 204 B.C. |  | Ptolemy IV's surname, Philopator, means father lover, ironic since according to some authorities he poisoned his father. Ptolemy IV is a major protagonist of the apocryphal 3 Maccabees, which describes events following the Battle of Raphia, in both Jerusalem and Alexandria. He was a cruel and evil monarch. |
| GP42289. Bronze hemidrachm, SNG Cop 229; Noeske 161, Hosking 44, Weiser 92; Svoronos 974 var (E, Ptolemy III), aVF, weight 44.240 g, maximum diameter 38.9 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, obverse head of Zeus Ammon right, wearing taenia; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing half left on fulmen, wings closed, head right, filleted cornucopia ascending behind from shoulder, EP monogram between legs; $140.00 (€107.80) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy IV Philopator, 221 - 204 B.C. |  | Ptolemy IV's surname, Philopator, means father lover, ironic since according to some authorities he poisoned his father. Ptolemy IV is a major protagonist of the apocryphal 3 Maccabees, which describes events following the Battle of Raphia, in both Jerusalem and Alexandria. He was a cruel and evil monarch. |
| GP51950. Bronze hemidrachm, Svoronos 974 (Ptolemy III), SNG Cop 224 - 226, Weiser 91 - 92, Noeske 155 ff., VF, weight 34.668 g, maximum diameter 37.6 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, obverse head of Zeus Ammon right, wearing taenia; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing half left on fulmen, wings closed, head right, filleted cornucopia right behind shoulder, E P monogram between legs; $125.00 (€96.25) ON RESERVE |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy IV Philopator, 221 - 204 B.C. |  | Ptolemy IV's surname, Philopator, means father lover, ironic since according to some authorities he poisoned his father. Ptolemy IV is a major protagonist of the apocryphal 3 Maccabees, which describes events following the Battle of Raphia, in both Jerusalem and Alexandria. He was a cruel and evil monarch. |
| GP42269. Bronze AE 38, Svoronos 1148 (Kyrene); SNG Cop 207; Weiser 97 (Ptolemy V, 204 - 202 B.C.); Noeske 151; BMC Ptolemies p. 75, 75 (Ptolemy V), gVF, weight 40.378 g, maximum diameter 38.3 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, obverse horned head of Zeus Ammon right, wearing taenia; reverse BASILEWS PTOLEMAIOU, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings open, head turned back right, SE between eagle's legs; big 40 gram bronze; $120.00 (€92.40) |
| Seleukid Kingdom, Antiochus XII Dionysos, c. 88 - 84 B.C. |  | Antiochus XII rule was challenged by the Nabataeans, the Judeans and by the Seleucids' perpetual fratricidal wars. Philip I took briefly took Damascus. Antiochus perished in battle at the hands of the Nabataeans, after which Damascus, the long time Southern stronghold of Seleucid power freely gave itself over to the benevolent rule of King Aretas III of Nabataea. |
| GB58539. Bronze AE 21, Houghton Lorber II 2481, SNG Spaer 2881 - 2883, aVF, weight 6.288 g, maximum diameter 20.9 mm, die axis 0o, Damascus mint, c. 83 - 82 B.C.; obverse diademed and draped bust of Antiochos XII right; reverse BASILEWS ANTIOCOU DIONUSOU EPIFANOUS FILOPATOROS KALLINIKOU, Zeus standing left Nike in right, scepter in left, monogram in ex; $105.00 (€80.85) |
| Phoenicia, Marathos, 173 - 172 B.C. |  | Marathos was the most northern coastal town in Phoenicia. Destroyed by its neighbor and rival Aradus, c. 145 B.C., it was later rebuilt as a colony of Aradus. |
| GP41435. Bronze AE 20, BMC Phoenicia p. 122, 20, aVF, weight 6.203 g, maximum diameter 20.2 mm, die axis 0o, Marathos mint, obverse laureate and draped bust of Ptolemy VI as Hermes, caduceus over shoulder; reverse Phoenician legend, date left, city name right, Marathos standing left, apluster in right; rare; $95.00 (€73.15) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy IV Philopator, 221 - 204 B.C. |  | Ptolemy IV's surname, Philopator, means father lover, ironic since according to some authorities he poisoned his father. Ptolemy IV is a major protagonist of the apocryphal 3 Maccabees, which describes events following the Battle of Raphia, in both Jerusalem and Alexandria. He was a cruel and evil monarch. |
| GP54640. Bronze drachm, Svoronos 1148 (Kyrene); SNG Cop 207; Weiser 97 (Ptolemy V, 204 - 202 B.C.); Noeske 151; BMC Ptolemies p. 75, 75 (Ptolemy V), F, weight 47.367 g, maximum diameter 38.7 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, obverse horned head of Zeus Ammon right, wearing taenia; reverse BASILEWS PTOLEMAIOU, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings open, head turned back right, SE between eagle's legs; big 47 gram bronze!; $80.00 (€61.60) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy IV Philopator, 221 - 204 B.C. |  | C. Lorber attributes this to the early issues of Ptolemy III. Weiser and Noeske identify the E as an EP monogram, the P formed by a small arc in the inside upper corner of the E. |
| GP54220. Bronze diobol, Svoronos 975 (Ptolemy III); SNG Cop 230; Weiser 93; BMC Alexandria p. 47, 15 - 16 (Ptolemy III); Noeske 165, aVF, weight 13.210 g, maximum diameter 27.0 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, obverse laureate head of Zeus right; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings open, head left, cornucopia left, E or EP monogram between legs; scarce; $75.00 (€57.75) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy IV Philopator, 221 - 204 B.C. |  | Ptolemy IV's surname, Philopator, means father lover, ironic since according to some authorities he poisoned his father. Ptolemy IV is a major protagonist of the apocryphal 3 Maccabees, which describes events following the Battle of Raphia, in both Jerusalem and Alexandria. He was a cruel and evil monarch. |
| GP42270. Bronze AE 30, Svoronos 1151; SNG Cop 215; BMC p. 75, 73 (Ptolemy V, 193 - 181 B.C.); Weiser 98 (Ptolemy V, 204 - 202 B.C., no countermark); Hosking -; Noeske -, aVF, weight 21.417 g, maximum diameter 30.0 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, obverse horned head of Zeus Ammon right, wearing taenia; reverse BASILEWS PTOLEMAIOU, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, double cornucopia on right shoulder, SE monogram between legs, rectangular cornucopia countermark; scarce; $65.00 (€50.05) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy V Epiphanes, 204 - 180 B.C., Tyre, Phoenicia |  | This type may have been among the last Ptolemaic coinage struck at Tyre before Ptolemy V lost Judea, Philistia, and Phoenicia to the Seleukid King Antiochos III after the battle of Panium in 198 B.C. (Dan 11:13-16). |
| GP60698. Bronze AE 17, Svoronos 1252 (only 4 examples cited), SNG Cop 502 (Ptolemy III), BMC Ptolemies -, Noeske -, Hosking -, Weiser -, Malter -, F, weight 4.769 g, maximum diameter 17.9 mm, die axis 0o, Tyre mint, c. 204 - 198 B.C.; obverse head of Zeus Ammon right, border of dots; reverse PTOLEMAIOU [BASILEWS], eagle with closed wings standing left atop fulmen, cornucopia with fillet on left shoulder, AP monogram between legs, large club in left field, border of dots around; rare; $65.00 (€50.05) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285 - 246 B.C. |  | Ptolemy II requested copies of Jewish texts for the Library at Alexandria. There they were translated and transcribed by 70 Jewish scholars, creating the Septuagint, the oldest Greek version of the Hebrew Bible. Many of the oldest Biblical verses among the Dead Sea Scrolls, particularly those in Aramaic, correspond more closely with the Septuagint than with the Hebrew text. |
| GP63178. Bronze hemiobol, Svoronos 439; Weiser 34; SNG Cop 158; SNG Milan 87; BMC Ptolemies p. 57 111; Noeske 67, aVF, rough, weight 9.084 g, maximum diameter 22.4 mm, die axis 315o, Alexandria mint, c. 266 - 256 B.C.; obverse head of Alexander right, wearing elephant skin headdress; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings open, head left, D between legs; $65.00 (€50.05) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy IV Philopator, 221 - 204 B.C. |  | Ptolemy IV's surname, Philopator, means father lover, ironic since according to some authorities he poisoned his father. Ptolemy IV is a major protagonist of the apocryphal 3 Maccabees, which describes events following the Battle of Raphia, in both Jerusalem and Alexandria. He was a cruel and evil monarch. |
| GP55334. Bronze hemiobol, Svoronos 1153; BMC Ptolemies -; Weiser -; SNG Cop -, aVF, weight 5.561 g, maximum diameter 19.2 mm, Phoenicia, Tyre mint, obverse diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, club left, SE monogram between legs; scarce; $63.00 (€48.51) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy V Epiphanes, 204 - 180 B.C. |  | The name of Ptolemy V Epiphanes appears on the Rosetta stone. He married Cleopatra I, the daughter of the Seleukid king Antiochos III, and was the father of Ptolemy VI, VII, and Cleopatra II. Ptolemy V lost Judea, Philistia, and Phoenicia to Antiochos III after the battle of Panium in 198 B.C. (Dan 11:13-16). |
| GP42375. Bronze obol, Svoronos 1494 (Ptolemy VIII), SNG Cop 339 ff. (Ptolemy VIII), Weiser 126, BMC Ptolemies p. 69, 9 - 10 (Paphos?), Noeske -, Hosking -, nice F, weight 11.390 g, maximum diameter 23.7 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 200 - 197 B.C.; obverse bearded head of Herakles right wearing lion-scalp headdress; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, head left; scarce; $60.00 (€46.20) |
| Seleukid Kingdom, Demetrius I Soter, 162 - 150 B.C. |  | As required by the Treaty of Apamea, Demetrius, the son of Seleucus IV, was held in Rome as a hostage. After Antiochus IV (his uncle) died, he claimed the right to rule but Rome preferred Antiochus V, a weak child. Demetrius escaped, was welcomed in Syria and took his throne. Antiochus V and his regent were executed. Demetrius defeated Judas Maccabaeus and restored Seleukid control over Judaea. |
| GB57121. Bronze AE 20, Houghton-Lorber II 1671, SNG Spaer 1314 ff., aVF, well centered, weight 5.250 g, maximum diameter 20.3 mm, die axis 0o, Tyre mint, 159 - 158 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Demetrius right; reverse BASILEWS DHMHTRIOU / TURIWN, stern of a galley left, LDNR (year 154) above, Phoenician inscription "of Tyre" in exergue; $60.00 (€46.20) |
| Seleucid Kingdom, Antiochus VI Dionysus, 144 - c. 142 B.C. |  | After his father was deposed by Demetrius II, the general Diodotus Tryphon nominated Antiochus VI as king. He gained the allegiance of most of the Seleucid domain, including Judaea, but was actually only a puppet of the general. He died after "ruling" for two years. He was likely assassinated under orders from Tryphon, who then made himself king. |
| GB57100. Bronze serrated AE 22, Houghton-Lorber II 2006c, SNG Spaer 1774 - 1776, Houghton CSE 249 - 250, VF, nice patina, weight 6.938 g, maximum diameter 22.2 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch mint, obverse radiate head of Antiochos VI right; reverse BASILEWS ANTIOCOU / EPIFANOUS DIONUSOU, elephant walking left, STA above * right; irregular flan; $55.00 (€42.35) |
| Seleucid Kingdom, Antiochus VI Dionysus, 144 - c. 142 B.C. |  | After his father was deposed by Demetrius II, the general Diodotus Tryphon nominated Antiochus VI as king. He gained the allegiance of most of the Seleucid domain, including Judaea, but was actually only a puppet of the general. He died after "ruling" for two years. He was likely assassinated under orders from Tryphon, who then made himself king. |
| GB57107. Bronze AE 22, Houghton-Lorber II 2006a, SNG Spaer 1774, gF, weight 7.626 g, maximum diameter 21.9 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch mint, obverse radiate head of Antiochos VI right, wreathed in ivy; reverse BASILEWS ANTIOCOU / EPIFANOUS DIONUSOU, elephant walking left holding torch in trunk, STA above right, cornucopia right; $55.00 (€42.35) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy III Euergetes, 246 - 222 B.C. |  | Ptolemy III Euergetes was the third ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. He promoted the translation of Jewish scriptures into Greek as the Septuagint. Due to a falling out at the Seleucid court, his eldest sister Berenice Phernophorus was murdered along with her infant son. In response he invaded Syria, occupied Antioch and even reached Babylon. This war, the Third Syrian War, is cryptically alluded to in Daniel XI 7-9. |
| GP55064. Bronze hemiobol, Svoronos 709, SNG Cop 496, BMC Ptolemies p. 53, 70 (Ptolemy III), Weiser 57, Hosking 27; SNG Milan 138; Noeske 96, VF, sandy patina, weight 6.222 g, maximum diameter 20.0 mm, die axis 0o, Phoenicia, Tyre mint, c. 230 - 222 B.C.; obverse diademed and horned head of Zeus-Ammon right; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, club left, no control letters; $54.00 (€41.58) |
| Seleukid Kingdom, Demetrius III Eucaerus, c. 96 - 87 B.C. |  | Demetrius III Eucaerus ("the Timely") was nicknamed Acaerus ("the Untimely) by the Jews. He defeated the Hasmonaean Priest King Alexander Jannaeus but was forced to withdraw from Judaea by the hostile population. While attempting to dethrone his brother, Philip I Philadelphus, he was defeated by the Arabs and Parthians, and taken prisoner. He was held in confinement in Parthia by Mithridates II until his death in 88 B.C. |
| GB46353. Bronze AE 19, Houghton-Lorber II 2456(4); SNG Spaer 2871 - 2873; Galilee Hoard H47 (this coin), VF, weight 3.125 g, maximum diameter 17.6 mm, die axis 0o, Damascus mint, 96 - 87 B.C.; obverse radiate and diademed, lightly bearded head of Demetrius III right; reverse BACILEWC DHMHTRIOU QEOU FILOMHTOROC CWTHROC, Hermes standing left on a square basis, kerykeion in right, palm frond in left, N over A left; ex Galilee Hoard (found north of the Sea of Galilee in 1989); $50.00 (€38.50) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy III Euergetes, 246 - 222 B.C. |  | Scarce small denomination of the popular Chi-Rho series. This CR monogram was later used for Christ.
Ptolemy III Euergetes was the third ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. He promoted the translation of Jewish scriptures into Greek as the Septuagint. Due to a falling out at the Seleucid court, his eldest sister Berenice Phernophorus was murdered along with her infant son. In response he invaded Syria, occupied Antioch and even reached Babylon. This war, the Third Syrian War, is cryptically alluded to in Daniel XI 7-9. |
| GP54620. Bronze hemiobol, Svoronos 968, SNG Cop 181 - 182, Weiser -, aVF, weight 4.856 g, maximum diameter 18.7 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, c. 230 - 222 B.C.; obverse head of Zeus Ammon right, wearing taenia; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on fulmen, wings closed, filleted cornucopia ascending behind from shoulder, Chi-Rho monogram between legs; scarce; $50.00 (€38.50) |
| Seleucid Kingdom, Antiochus VI Dionysus, 144 - c. 142 B.C. |  | Tryphon took the young son of Alexander I under his protection, crowning him Antiochus VI. After Tryphon evicted Demetrius from Antioch, probably in the summer of 143 B.C., Antiochus VI gained the allegiance of most of the Seleucid domain, including Judaea. Antiochus IV died two years later. He was probably assassinated under orders from Tryphon, who then made himself king. |
| GB57116. Bronze serrated AE 17, Houghton-Lorber II 2007(c), SNG Spaer 1784, F, weight 3.713 g, maximum diameter 17.1 mm, die axis 45o, Antioch mint, obverse radiate head of Antiochos VI right; reverse BASILEWS ANTIOCOU, EPIFANOUS DIONUSOU in ex, panther walking left, forepaw raised, broken spear in mouth, STA above right, star right; $50.00 (€38.50) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy V Epiphanes, 205 - 180 B.C. |  | Joppa appears in the Bible as the name of the modern city of Yafo, Israel, also known as Jaffa.
The name of Ptolemy V Epiphanes appears on the Rosetta stone. He married Cleopatra I, the daughter of the Seleukid king Antiochos III, and was the father of Ptolemy VI, VII, and Cleopatra II. Ptolemy V lost Judea, Philistia, and Phoenicia to Antiochos III after the battle of Panium in 198 B.C. (Dan 11:13-16). |
| GP54217. Bronze dichalkon, Svoronos 819 (Ptolemy II); Weiser 113; SNG Cop -, F, weight 2.711 g, maximum diameter 16.1 mm, die axis 0o, Joppa mint, c. 204 - 202 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right; reverse eagle standing left on thunderbolt; harpa to left; rare; $45.00 (€34.65) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy IV Philopator, 225 - 205 B.C. |  | Isis was an Egyptian goddess, whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. She was worshiped as the ideal mother, wife, matron of nature and magic. She was the friend of slaves, sinners, artisans, the downtrodden, as well as listening to the prayers of the wealthy, maidens, aristocrats and rulers. Isis is the Goddess of motherhood and fertility. |
| GP54618. Bronze obol, Svoronos 1154; SNG Cop 240 - 242; Noeske 173; BMC Alexandria p. 79, 9-12 (Ptolemy VI); SGCV II 7848; Weiser -, F, weight 6.677 g, maximum diameter 21.4 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 221 - 205 B.C.; obverse head of Isis right, wearing grain wreath; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, head right, wings closed, cornucopia across shoulder; $45.00 (€34.65) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy V Epiphanes, 204 - 180 B.C. |  | The name of Ptolemy V Epiphanes appears on the Rosetta stone. He married Cleopatra I, the daughter of the Seleukid king Antiochos III, and was the father of Ptolemy VI, VII, and Cleopatra II. Ptolemy V lost Judea, Philistia, and Phoenicia to Antiochos III after the battle of Panium in 198 B.C. (Dan 11:13-16). |
| GP42369. Bronze obol, Svoronos 1494 (Ptolemy VIII), SNG Cop 339 ff. (Ptolemy VIII), Weiser 126, BMC Ptolemies p. 69, 9 - 10 (Paphos?), Noeske -, Hosking -, weight 13.665 g, maximum diameter 25.9 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 200 - 197 B.C.; obverse bearded head of Herakles right wearing lion-scalp headdress; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, head left; scarce; $40.00 (€30.80) |
| Seleukid Kingdom, Antiochus VII Sidetes, 138 - 129 B.C. |  | After his brother Demetrius was captured by the Parthians, Antiochus VII was made king. He married Demetrius' wife Cleopatra Thea. He defeated the usurper Tryphon at Dora and laid siege to Jerusalem in 134. According to Josephus, the Hasmonean king John Hyrcanus opened King David's sepulcher and removed three thousand talents, which he then paid Antiochus to spare the city. Sidetes then attacked the Parthians, supported by a body of Jews under Hyrcanus, and briefly took back Mesopotamia, Babylonia and Media before being ambushed and killed by Phraates II. His brother Demetrius II had by then been released, but the Seleucid realm was now restricted to Syria. Antiochus VII was the last Seleucid king of any stature. |
| GB46096. Bronze AE 11, Houghton-Lorber II 2069b; SNG Spaer 1977-1978, gF, weight 1.632 g, maximum diameter 12.1 mm, die axis 180o, Antioch on the Orontes mint, 138 - 129 B.C.; obverse ship's ram left within dotted border; reverse BASILEWS ANTIOXOU IERASU (legend in three lines above), pilei, stars above, control mark below; $36.00 (€27.72) |
| Seleukid Kingdom, Demetrius III Eucaerus, c. 96 - 87 B.C. |  | Demetrius III Eucaerus ("the Timely") was nicknamed Acaerus ("the Untimely) by the Jews. He defeated the Hasmonaean Priest King Alexander Jannaeus but was forced to withdraw from Judaea by the hostile population. While attempting to dethrone his brother, Philip I Philadelphus, he was defeated by the Arabs and Parthians, and taken prisoner. He was held in confinement in Parthia by Mithridates II until his death in 88 B.C. |
| GB46355. Bronze AE 19, Houghton-Lorber II 2456 (various control marks); SNG Spaer 2871 ff. (same); Galilee Hoard H46 (this coin), F, weight 4.057 g, maximum diameter 18.1 mm, die axis 0o, Damascus mint, 96 - 87 B.C.; obverse radiate and diademed, lightly bearded head of Demetrius III right; reverse BACILEWC DHMHTRIOU QEOU FILOMHTOROC CWTHROC, Hermes standing left on a square basis, kerykeion in right, palm frond in left, control marks off flan; ex Galilee Hoard (found north of the Sea of Galilee in 1989); $36.00 (€27.72) |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285 - 246 B.C. |  | Ptolemy II requested copies of Jewish texts for the Library at Alexandria. There they were translated and transcribed by seventy Jewish scholars hired for the purpose, creating the Septuagint, the oldest Greek version of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). Many of the oldest Biblical verses among the Dead Sea Scrolls, particularly those in Aramaic, correspond more closely with the Septuagint than with the Hebrew text. |
| GP54218. Bronze AE 17, Svoronos 843 (Ptolemy II, uncertain Phoenician or Palestinian mint), Fair, weight 4.083 g, maximum diameter 17.6 mm, die axis 0o, Cyprus mint, obverse horned head of Zeus Ammon right, wearing taenia; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left, lotus in left field; rare; $30.00 (€23.10) |
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