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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Judean & Biblical Coins| ▸ |Biblical Coins| ▸ |Christmas||View Options:  |  |  |     

Christmas and the Three Kings

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him" Matthew 2:1-8.

Jesus was born sometime between 6 B.C. and 4 B.C. Matthew describes King Herod as the ruler during the time of the Nativity, and Herod died in 4 B.C. Later, in order to kill Jesus and eliminate him as a rival king, Herod ordered the "Massacre of the Innocents" - the killing of all male children in Bethlehem aged two years and under. This means that Jesus may have been up to two years old already by that time, and this also sets the Nativity between 4 and 6 B.C.

On this page we list coin that were struck at the time of Jesus' birth or which relate to his birth. Most biblical scholars now believe the "Magi" probably were wise-men, not actually kings. If they were kings, the kings on the coins below are among the most likely visitors.

Kingdom of Persis, Ardaxsir (Artaxerxes) II, 1st Century B.C.

|Kingdom| |of| |Persis|, |Kingdom| |of| |Persis,| |Ardaxsir| |(Artaxerxes)| |II,| |1st| |Century| |B.C.||obol|
The coinage of the Kings of Persis consists in individualized portraits of the rulers on the obverse, and often the rulers shown in a devotional role on the reverse, before a sacred edifice or a fire-alter. The style of the coins is often influenced by Parthian coinage, particularly in respect to the dress and the headgear of the rulers. A reverse legend in Aramaic, using the Aramaic script, gives the name of the ruler and his title (mlk': King), and often his relationship to a preceding ruler. The coin legends are written from right to left, wrapping the central scene in a counterclock-wise manner.
GS01368. Silver obol, Sunrise 596; Alram IP 572; Klose-Müseler 4/13; BMC Arabia p. 224, 16; Tyler-Smith 74 - 77, aEF, weight 0.61 g, maximum diameter 10.6 mm, die axis 0o, Persepolis (Fars Province, Iran) mint, 1st Century B.C.; obverse bust of king left, short beard, wearing Persepolitan crown with turrets and diadem, neck torque, and cloak; reverse Aramaic legend forming square: Adaxsir king, son of Darev king, king to right of fire altar, standing left, holding scepter; SOLD


Kingdom of Persis, Ardaxsir (Artaxerxes) II, 1st Century B.C.

|Kingdom| |of| |Persis|, |Kingdom| |of| |Persis,| |Ardaxsir| |(Artaxerxes)| |II,| |1st| |Century| |B.C.||drachm|
The coinage of the Kings of Persis consists in individualized portraits of the rulers on the obverse, and often the rulers shown in a devotional role on the reverse, before a sacred edifice or a fire-alter. The style of the coins is often influenced by Parthian coinage, particularly in respect to the dress and the headgear of the rulers. A reverse legend in Aramaic, using the Aramaic script, gives the name of the ruler and his title (mlk': King), and often his relationship to a preceding ruler. The coin legends are written from right to left, wrapping the central scene in a counterclock-wise manner.
GS01373. Silver drachm, Alram IP 570; Klose-Müseler 4/10; Sunrise 598; BMC Arabia p. 222, 2; Tyler-Smith -, aEF, bold, high relief, weight 3.92 g, maximum diameter 25.2 mm, die axis 0o, Persepolis (Fars Province, Iran) mint, 1st Century B.C.; obverse crowned king right, dot within crescent and other symbols behind; reverse king right of fire altar holding scepter, Aramaic legend around; SOLD


Kingdom of Persis, Vahsir (Oxathres) I, 1st Century B.C. - 1st Century A.D.

|Kingdom| |of| |Persis|, |Kingdom| |of| |Persis,| |Vahsir| |(Oxathres)| |I,| |1st| |Century| |B.C.| |-| |1st| |Century| |A.D.||obol|
The coinage of the Kings of Persis consists in individualized portraits of the rulers on the obverse, and often the rulers shown in a devotional role on the reverse, before a sacred edifice or a fire-alter. The style of the coins is often influenced by Parthian coinage, particularly in respect to the dress and the headgear of the rulers. A reverse legend in Aramaic, using the Aramaic script, gives the name of the ruler and his title (mlk': King), and often his relationship to a preceding ruler. The coin legends are written from right to left, wrapping the central scene in a counterclock-wise manner.
GS01376. Silver obol, Tyler-Smith 133, Alram IP 584, Klose-Müseler 4/22, Sunrise 604, BMC Arabia -, EF, nicely toned, weight 0.600 g, maximum diameter 10.9 mm, die axis 135o, Persepolis (Fars Province, Iran) mint, 1st Century B.C. - 1st Century A.D.; obverse bearded, diademed and draped bust left, wearing neck torque, symbol behind; reverse king left of fire altar holding scepter, Aramaic legend around; SOLD


Nabataean Kingdom, Aretas IV, 9 B.C. - 40 A.D.

|Nabataean| |Kingdom|, |Nabataean| |Kingdom,| |Aretas| |IV,| |9| |B.C.| |-| |40| |A.D.||AE| |11|
Aretas' daughter was married to Herod Antipas, Herod the Great's son, and the Tetrarch of Galilee. This coin resembles a coin minted by King Herod and the reverse probably depicts the golden bird Herod placed above the entrance to the Jerusalem Temple. But the political alliance and family ties celebrated by this coin were broken when Antipas left Aretas' daughter to marry Herodias. In response to this breach and personal insult, Aretas attacked and defeated Antipas' army in Galilee and brought his daughter home to Petra. It was Herodias' daughter, Salome, who requested John the Baptist's head on a platter.
GB06569. Bronze AE 11, Al-Qatanani 134, Barkay CN 156f, Meshorer Nabataean 93, Huth 84, SNG ANS -, BMC Arabia -, VF, dark green patina, struck with worn dies, flat area on edge from sprue cut, weight 1.12 g, maximum diameter 11.4 mm, die axis 180o, Petra (Jordan) mint, 5 - 6 A.D.; obverse Nabataean ayin over het (Aretas) within wreath; reverse eagle standing left, head left, wings closed, Nabataean het behind; SOLD


Antioch, Seleukis and Pieria, Syria, 55 - 56 A.D.

|Roman| |Syria|, |Antioch,| |Seleukis| |and| |Pieria,| |Syria,| |55| |-| |56| |A.D.||AE| |19|
Michael Molnar, an astronomer, believes this coin depicts Jupiter's occultation of Aries in 6 B.C., the most probable "Star of Bethlehem." We think it is unlikely; nevertheless, the type is very popular and somewhat expensive.
RY83925. Bronze AE 19, McAlee 100 (rare); RPC I 4286 (6 spec.); SNG Cop 99; BMC Galatia p. 160, 69 var. (star within crescent), Choice gVF, attractive black patina with red earthen highlighting, well centered and struck, some porosity, weight 5.804 g, maximum diameter 19.4 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, reign of Nero, legate series, 55 - 56 A.D.; obverse ANTIOXEΩN, veiled and turreted head of Tyche right; reverse EΠI KOYAΔPATOY, ram leaping right, looking back, star above (no crescent), ET ΔP (year 104 of the Caesarean Era) below; this type is nicknamed "The Star of Bethlehem Coin"; rare; SOLD




    




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