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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Judean & Biblical Coins| ▸ |Roman Procurators| ▸ |Valerius Gratus||View Options:  |  |  |   

Roman Judaea, Valerius Gratus, Prefect under Tiberius, 15 - 26 A.D.

"And, as a further attestation to what I say of the dilatory nature of Tiberius, I appeal to this his practice itself; for although he were emperor twenty-two years, he sent in all but two procurator to govern the nation of the Jews. Gratus, and his successor in the government, Pilate." - Josephus, antiquities VIII, VI, 5.

Judaea, Valerius Gratus, Roman Prefect Under Tiberius, 15 - 26 A.D., Cohors II Italica Civium Romanorum Countermark

|Valerius| |Gratus|, |Judaea,| |Valerius| |Gratus,| |Roman| |Prefect| |Under| |Tiberius,| |15| |-| |26| |A.D.,| |Cohors| |II| |Italica| |Civium| |Romanorum| |Countermark||prutah|
Now there was a certain man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort...(Acts 10:1).

Spijkermann was the first to publish a countermarked prutah, also a Valerius Gratus coin, in 1963. Lönnqvist published the first detailed study, "New Vistas on the Countermarked Coins of the Roman Prefects of Judaea" in INJ 12. Kogon published an update, "Countermarks on Small Judean Coins" in INR 7, identifying 47 known specimens of countermarked prutah of all types. Both papers are available online. Lönnqvist interpreted CΠ in the countermark as an abbreviation for the Greek word ΣΠΕIPA, referring to a Roman legionary tactical unit, a cohors. The use of CΠ referring to a cohors is also known from an inscription. He suggested that the countermarks were applied in 36 - 37 A.D. in Jerusalem to mark the coins as pay for the soldiers of the cohors II Italica civium Romanorum.
JD111613. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6369a (same c/m); RPC I 4966.8-11 (same); Meshorer TJC 330 (same); countermark: Kogon 3b, Howgego GIC 386, coin: Fair, countermark: VF, weight 2.195 g, maximum diameter 17.7 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, 24 - 25 A.D., c/m: 36 - 37/41 A.D.; obverse TIB / KAI/CAP (Greek: Tiberius Caesar) in three lines within wreath tied at base with an X; reverse palm branch curving right, flanked by IOY-ΛIA (Greek: Julia = Tiberius' mother Livia) above L - IA (year 11 of Tiberius) in two lines across field; countermark: palm frond flanked by C-Π within 8mm circular punch; from the collection of a Texas clergyman, ex J. P. Fontanille Collection (2016); rare countermark; SOLD


Judaea, Valerius Gratus, Roman Prefect Under Tiberius, 15 - 26 A.D.

|Valerius| |Gratus|, |Judaea,| |Valerius| |Gratus,| |Roman| |Prefect| |Under| |Tiberius,| |15| |-| |26| |A.D.||prutah|
Grapes, the vine and wine were an important part of the ancient economy and ritual. Grapes were brought to the Temple as offerings of the first-fruits and wine was offered upon the altar. The vine and grapes decorated the sacred vessels in the sanctuary and a golden vine with clusters of grapes stood at its entrance.
JD98803. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6365 (S); Meshorer TJC 326; Sofaer 23; RPC I 4963; BMC Palestine p. 254, 27 & pl. XXVII, 15, VF, well centered, ragged edge, pit on reverse, applied/enhanced patina, weight 1.925 g, maximum diameter 16.1 mm, die axis 135o, Jerusalem mint, 17 - 18 A.D.; obverse IOYΛIA (Greek: Julia = Tiberius' mother Livia), tendrils, leaf, and small bunch of grapes on branch; reverse amphora with scroll handles flanked by date L - Δ (year 4 of Tiberius); from an Israeli collection; scarce; SOLD


|Valerius| |Gratus|, |Judaea,| |Valerius| |Gratus,| |Roman| |Prefect| |Under| |Tiberius,| |15| |-| |26| |A.D.||prutah|
Julia on the obverse, refers to Livia, wife of Augustus and mother of Tiberius. Livia took the name Julia Augusta after Augustus died.
JD83098. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6362; Meshorer TJC 317; RPC I 4959; Sofaer 12; BMC Palestine p. 251, 5 & pl. XXVIII 8, 8, VF, bold, extraordinarily nice for the type, weight 1.812 g, maximum diameter 16.0 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, 15 A.D.; obverse IOY/ΛIA (Greek: Julia) in two lines within wreath; reverse palm frond, flanked by L - B (year 2 of Tiberius); SOLD


|Valerius| |Gratus|, |Judaea,| |Valerius| |Gratus,| |Roman| |Prefect| |Under| |Tiberius,| |15| |-| |26| |A.D.,| |Extremely| |Rare| |Hybrid||prutah|
SH40205. Bronze prutah, Meshorer TJC 319, RPC I 4959A, Sofaer 14, BMC Palestine -, Hendin -, F, weight 1.426 g, maximum diameter 15.6 mm, Jerusalem mint, 15 A.D.; obverse KAI/CAP (Greek: Caesar) in two lines within wreath; reverse palm frond flanked by L - B (year 2 of Tiberius); extremely rare hybrid; SOLD


|Valerius| |Gratus|, |Judaea,| |Valerius| |Gratus,| |Roman| |Prefect| |Under| |Tiberius,| |15| |-| |26| |A.D.||prutah|
Grapes, the vine and wine were an important part of the ancient economy and ritual. Grapes were brought to the Temple as offerings of the first-fruits and wine was offered upon the altar. The vine and grapes decorated the sacred vessels in the sanctuary and a golden vine with clusters of grapes stood at its entrance.
JD97709. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6365; Meshorer TJC 326; Sofaer 23; RPC I 4963; BMC Palestine p. 254, 27 & pl. XXVII, 15, Choice VF, green patina with highlighting earthen deposits, well centered, reverse edge beveled, remnants of pre-strike casting sprues, weight 2.540 g, maximum diameter 17.5 mm, die axis 180o, Jerusalem mint, 17 - 18 A.D.; obverse IOYΛIA (Greek: Julia = Tiberius' mother Livia), tendrils, leaf, and small bunch of grapes on branch; reverse amphora with scroll handles flanked by date L - Δ (year 4 of Tiberius); from an Israeli collection; SOLD


Judaea, Valerius Gratus, Roman Prefect Under Tiberius, 15 - 26 A.D.

|Valerius| |Gratus|, |Judaea,| |Valerius| |Gratus,| |Roman| |Prefect| |Under| |Tiberius,| |15| |-| |26| |A.D.||prutah|
Julia on the obverse, refers to Livia, wife of Augustus and mother of Tiberius. Livia took the name Julia Augusta after Augustus died.

In the book Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ and its derived films, Gratus is almost killed by a tile accidentally dropped by Judah Ben-Hur. This prompts all subsequent events of the story. In the novel Gratus is portrayed as a corrupt governor who acted against Ben-Hur's family in order to enrich himself.
JD98800. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6364, Meshorer TJC 321, Sofaer pl. 219, 18; BMC Palestine p. 253, 16 & pl. XXVIII, 11; RPC I 4961, VF, well centered, enhanced patina, weight 2.158 g, maximum diameter 17.2 mm, die axis 3.15o, Jerusalem mint, 16 - 17 A.D.; obverse IOY/ΛIA (Greek: Julia = Tiberius' mother Livia) in two lines within wreath; reverse three formal lilies in bloom springing from a single base, L - Γ (year 3 of Tiberius) divided across field; SOLD


Judaea, Valerius Gratus, Roman Prefect Under Tiberius, 15 - 26 A.D.

|Valerius| |Gratus|, |Judaea,| |Valerius| |Gratus,| |Roman| |Prefect| |Under| |Tiberius,| |15| |-| |26| |A.D.||prutah|
Julia on the obverse, refers to Livia, wife of Augustus and mother of Tiberius. Livia took the name Julia Augusta after Augustus died.
JD97073. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6362; Meshorer TJC 317; RPC I 4959; Sofaer 12; BMC Palestine p. 251, 5 & pl. XXVIII 8, 8, gVF, dark patina with highlighting earthen deposits, off center, obverse edge beveled, tiny edge cracks, weight 2.177 g, maximum diameter 17.2 mm, die axis 180o, Jerusalem mint, 15 A.D.; obverse IOY/ΛIA (Greek: Julia = Tiberius' mother Livia) in two lines within wreath; reverse palm frond, flanked by L - B (year 2 of Tiberius); SOLD


Judaea, Valerius Gratus, Roman Prefect Under Tiberius, 15 - 26 A.D., Unofficial Imitative or Counterfeit

|Valerius| |Gratus|, |Judaea,| |Valerius| |Gratus,| |Roman| |Prefect| |Under| |Tiberius,| |15| |-| |26| |A.D.,| |Unofficial| |Imitative| |or| |Counterfeit||prutah|
This specimen is so crude it seems unlikely that even a complete illiterate wouldn't notice it was a bit strange.
JD98801. Bronze prutah, cf. Hendin 6364a, Meshorer TJC 321a; Sofaer 18; SNG ANS 344; BMC Palestine p. 253, 16; RPC I 4961 (none this crude and blundered), VF, extremely crude, barbaric, irregular, weight 1.719 g, maximum diameter 15.2 mm, die axis 0o, unofficial mint, c. 16 - 20 A.D.; obverse IOY/ΛIA (blundered illegible Greek: Julia) in two lines within wreath, closed with an annulet at top; reverse three formal lilies in bloom springing from a single base, L - Γ (year 3 of Tiberius, Γ blundered) divided across field; this is the most barbaric crude specimen of the type known to FORVM; very rare; SOLD


|Valerius| |Gratus|, |Judaea,| |Valerius| |Gratus,| |Roman| |Prefect| |Under| |Tiberius,| |15| |-| |26| |A.D.||prutah|
Variety with Tiberias' name misspelled.
SH13128. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6363b; Meshorer TJC 320a; BMC Palestine p. 252, 13 & pl. XXVIII, 10; RPC I 4960 (specimen 2); Sofaer 15 var. (TIBEPOY), VF, nice green patina, weight 2.01 g, maximum diameter 16.9 mm, die axis 135o, Jerusalem mint, 16 - 17 A.D.; obverse KAI/CAP (Greek: Caesar) within wreath; reverse TIBEIPOY (Greek: of Tiberius), two crossed cornucopia with caduceus between them, L - Γ (year 3 of Tiberius) in outer fields; rare; SOLD


Judaea, Valerius Gratus, Roman Prefect Under Tiberius, 15 - 26 A.D., Lot of 5 Different Prutot

|Holyland| |Bulk| |Lots|, |Judaea,| |Valerius| |Gratus,| |Roman| |Prefect| |Under| |Tiberius,| |15| |-| |26| |A.D.,| |Lot| |of| |5| |Different| |Prutot||Lot|
The Roman province of Judaea was named after Herod Archelaus' Tetrarchy of Judaea, but encompassed a larger territory, parts of the former Hasmonean and Herodian kingdoms, including Judea, Samaria and Idumea. The name "Judaea" was derived from the Kingdom of Judah of the 6th century B.C. After the deposition of Herod Archelaus in 6 A.D., Judea came under direct Roman rule. Roman governors began to tax the population and had authority to punish by execution. Unrest was endemic in Judaea under Roman rule. The First Jewish Revolt, 66 - 70 A.D., ended with the destruction of Second Temple of Jerusalem and the Fiscus Judaicus. The Bar Kokhba Revolt, 132 - 135 A.D., ended with the Jewish diaspora. Hadrian renamed the province Syria Palaestina, and renamed Jerusalem, Aelia Capitolina.
LT98837. Bronze Lot, Lot of 5 prutot, F, all Valerius Gratus, each a different type, unattributed, no tags or flips, the actual coins in the photographs, 5 prutot; SOLD




  




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REFERENCES

Burnett, A., M. Amandry & P. Ripollès. Roman Provincial Coinage I: From the death of Caesar to the death of Vitellius (44 BC-AD 69). (London, 1992 & supplements).
Fontanille, J. Menorah Coin Project, website: http://menorahcoinproject.com/
Hendin, D. Guide to Biblical Coins, 6th Edition. (Amphora, 2021).
Hill, G. Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum: Palestine. (London, 1914).
Howgego, C. Greek Imperial Countermarks. Royal Numismatic Society, Special Publication No. 17. (London, 1985).
Kogon, Z. "Countermarks on Small Judean Coins" in INR 7 (Jerusalem, 2012), pp. 93 - 106.
Lönnqvist, K. "New Vistas on the Countermarked Coins of the Roman Prefects of Judea" in INJ 12 (Jerusalem, 1992 - 1993), pp. 56 - 70. Meshorer, Y. A Treasury of Jewish Coins from the Persian Period to Bar Kokhba. (Jerusalem, 2001).
Meshorer, Y., et al. Coins of the Holy Land: The Abraham and Marian Sofaer Collection at the American Numismatic Society and The Israel Museum. ACNAC 8. (New York, 2013).
RPC Online - http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/
Sear, D. Greek Coins and Their Values, Volume 2: Asia and Africa. (London, 1979).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Denmark, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Vol. 7: Cyprus to India. (West Milford, NJ, 1982).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, USA, The Collection of the American Numismatic Society, Part 6: Palestine - South Arabia. (New York, 1981).

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