09. Greek, Persian & Judaean
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Judaea, Gadara or Syria Pompeian eraBust of young Herakles left, club over shoulder.
Rostrum (ship's ram) right; above L A (Year one), below PΩMHΣ in two lines; all within wreath.
Military mint in Syria or Gadara; 64, 63 BCE
7.23g
Spijkerman 1 (Gadara); HGC 10, 381.
Very Rare.
Ex-Nummitra Auction 3, lot 897 (misattributed as Antony)
From "Coinage in the Roman Provinces Conference"
https://numismatics.org/pocketchange/rbw1/
In 64/3 BC Roman troops under Pompey liberated the Greek cities in Judaea conquered by Alexander Jannaeus. Pompey personally supervised the reconstruction of Gadara. In commemoration of this event the people of Gadara established the year 64/3 BC as the beginning of a new era for their history, in substitution for the Seleukid era.
Seyrig and Spijkerman attributed this type to the city of Gadara in the Decapolis, however, Kushnir-Stein, followed by Kindler and Meshorer, rejected that based on style, flan manufacture, and find locations. Most of the coins of this type have been found in Lebanon leading Meshorer to place them in the Iturean section of Sofaer, however, they lack the typical monograms and legends found on other Iturean coins leaving their exact origin still unknown. Kindler did not include this variant in his typology of Iturean coinage.Jay GT4
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Judaea First Revolt 1/8 Shekel Æ(לגאלת ציון) (Palaeo-Hebrew inscription: "For the redemption of Zion"), omer cup
(שנת ארבע) (Paleo-Hebrew inscription: "Year four")
lulav bunch flanked by etrogs.
Jerusalem; 69-70 CE
4.90g
Hendin 1369; Meshorer 214
Ex-Nummitra, Auction 3 lot 906
Jay GT4
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Judaea Alexander JannaeusPaleo-Hebrew in classic style (Yehonathan the High Priest and Council of the Jews)
Within wreath
Two Cornucopias splayed outward, adorned with ribbons, pomegranate/poppy between
1.21g, 12mm
Hendin 6181Jay GT4
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Ionia, Phokaia SOLDFemale head to left; below neck, seal swimming left.
Quadripartite incuse square.
Hekte, Electrum 2.48g
Circa 478-387 BCE
Bodenstedt 90. Boston 1922. SNG von Aulock 2127
Ex-Calgary coin
A nicely centered late electrum piece
SOLD to ANE October 2023 (Torex)Jay GT4
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Judaea First Revolt PrutahW𐤕𐤋𐤔𐤍𐤕 𐤔
(Year 3) in ancient Hebrew script,
Amphora with broad rim, two handles and conical lid decorated with tiny gloves hanging around edge.
𐤇𐤓𐤕 𐤔 𐤉𐤅𐤍
Freedom of Zion in ancient Hebrew, vine leaf on a small branch.
Jerusalem April 68-May 69 CE
3.16g
Hendin 6392 (6th); 1363 (5th)
Ex-Barakat
Jay GT4
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Judaea First Revolt AR "Shekel" Year 5 ŠQL YSR’L (shekel of Israel)
around a chalice used in the temple cult, above Year 5
YRWŠLM HKDWŠH (Jerusalem the holy)
around a branch with three pomegranates
Jerusalem; March 4th-August 70 CE
13.45g
Hendin 6399 (6th);1370 (5th); TJC 215
Hand struck with modern dies in silver
Shekels were minted in all five years of the revolt with year 1 being scarce, years 2 and 3 the most common, year 4 very rare and year 5 the rarest. Only about 25 of the year 5 shekels are recorded. The rarity and price excludes me from the market for a real coin, hence the purchase of a modern hand struck replica in silver.
Jay GT4
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Judaea Yehud Gerah, Persian OccupationHelmeted head of Athena right decorated with olive wreath (crude style)
𐤉𐤄𐤃 (YHD) to right of owl standing right, head facing, small lily above left.
Jerusalem mint?
After restoration of Jerusalem to before 333 BCE
0.38g; 8mm
Hendin 6051 (6th); Hendin 1050 (5th); TJC 6a
Ex-Holyland (Shick) e-Auction 17 lot 40 with export permit, ex-Menashe Landman collection
Persian rule issue
Jay GT4
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Persian Tarsos, Mazaios Satrap of Cilicia𐡁𐡏𐡋𐡕𐡓𐡆 ('B'LTRS' in Aramaic)
Baal of Tarsos seated left, holding holding eagle-tipped scepter; grain ear, grape-bunch, and Aramaic R in left field
MZDY ZY 'BRNHR' W ḤLK (Mazaios who is over Eber Nahara and Cilicia)
Lion bringing down bull above a pair of crenellated walls, each with four towers.
Tarsos, Cilicia 361/0-334 BC
10.74g
Casabonne Series 4, Group A; SNG BN 354-60 var. (control marks); SNG Levante 115
Ex-Dara Antiquities Auction 3, lot 1044
Hendin translates the Aramaic as "Mazaios who is over Eber Nahara and Cilicia." The similarity of this inscription and a descriptive phrase used in the Biblical texts of Ezra and Nehemiah has led to Hendin's suggestion that the walls on this coin represent the ones encompassing Jerusalem, which less than a century before had been rebuilt by Nehemiah, as related in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Both Nehemiah and Mazaeus (Mazdai) were Persian court officials, so they used similar phraseology for administrative and geographical regions. Mazaeus was governor, or satrap, of the land of Beyond the River around 350 BCE. Governing from Tarsus, the administrative capital, Mazaeus is telling us that he is in charge of "Beyond the River."
(A fuller discussion of the subject is presented on pages 100-103 of the 4th edition of Hendin's Guide to Biblical Coins.)Jay GT4
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Judaea First Revolt 1/8 Shekel Æ Soldלגאלת ציון (Palaeo-Hebrew inscription: "For the redemption of Zion"), omer cup
שנת ארבע (Paleo-Hebrew inscription: "Year four")
lulav bunch flanked by etrogs.
Jerusalem; 69-70 CE
4.83g
Hendin 1369; Meshorer 214
Ex-Savoca Blue Auction 115 lot 820 from the Tareq Hani collection
SOLD! To the Paterson collectionJay GT4
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Judaea First Revolt 1/8 Shekel Æ(לגאלת ציון) (Palaeo-Hebrew inscription: "For the redemption of Zion"), omer cup
(שנת ארבע) (Paleo-Hebrew inscription: "Year four")
lulav bunch flanked by etrogs.
Jerusalem; 69-70 CE
4.95g
Hendin 1369; Meshorer 214
Ex-Holyland (Shick) e-auction 16 lot 173 with export permit, ex-Menashe Landman collectionJay GT4
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Persian Tarsos, Mazaios Satrap of Cilicia𐡁𐡏𐡋𐡕𐡓𐡆 ('B'LTRS' in Aramaic)
Baal of Tarsos seated left, holding lotus-tipped scepter; grain ear and grape bunch to left.
MZDY (Maziaos)
Lion attacking stag left; O to lower left; all within incuse square.
Tarsos, Cilicia
361-334 BCE
9.95g
AR Stater
Sold as SNG France 2/319 (to be researched)
Ex-Colmar Collection FranceJay GT4
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Macedon: Alexander III Arados Tetradrachm Price 3309Head of beardless Heracles right wearing lion skin headdress
AΛEΞANΔPOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ
Zeus seated on stool-throne left, eagle on outstretched right hand, sceptre in left hand AP monogram below throne
Arados,
328-320 BCE
17.14g
Price 3309
Late lifetime or early posthumous issue.
Ex-Barakat Jay GT4
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Judaea, Bar Kochba Revolt. Æ Small Bronze ShM`WN
Simon in Paleo-Hebrew, seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates.
L-HRWT YRWShLM
For the freedom of Jerusalem (Paleo-Hebrew), bunch of grapes with branch and small leaf.
Undated, attributed to year 3 (134/5 CE).
19mm; 4.46g
Hendin 6467 (6th); Hendin 1440 (5th)
All Bar Kokhba coins are over struck on contemporary coins circulating in Judaea at the time. A mint has not been found, but Herodium has been suggested (by Barag) as the location for the "regular" mint and Jerusalem for the "irregular" issues.
From David Hendin's "Guide to Biblical Coins 5th Edition":
"From the Roman point of view, both were irregular rebel mints. For the Bar Kokhba administration the "irregular" mint was a second, subsidiary, mint operating not at the central mint but at a different location, and there is no reason to assume that it was considered to be irregular. The occasional reference to these coins as "irregular" does not carry much weight. In the eyes of the Greeks and Romans all Jewish coinage was no doubt considered "irregular coinage"
Ex-Pavlos S. PavlouJay GT4
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Persian Tarsos, Balakros. Satrap of CiliciaBaal of Tarsos seated left, holding lotus-tipped scepter, grain ear and grape bunch to left, ivy leaf to right B (Balakros) above, T below seat
Draped bust of Athena facing slihtly left, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet, single-pendant earring, and necklace
Tarsos, Cilicia
333-329 BCE
25.5mm; 10.72g
AR Stater
Casabornne Series 2; SNG Lenante supp. 21
EX- CNG e-Auction 485 lot 166Jay GT4
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Judaea Pontius Pilate PrutahTIBERPIOY KAICAPOC (of Tiberius Caesar) LIς (Year 16)
Libation ladle (simpulum).
IOYΛIA KAICAPOC (Julia [wife] of Caesar, referring to Julia Livia, mother of Tiberius).
Three bound ears of barley.
Jerusalem mint.
Dated LIς year 16 (29 CE)
1.61g
Hendin 648.
Ex-Barakat
Nice hard desert patina.Jay GT4
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Judaea Antonius Felix PrutahTI KΛAYΔIOC KAICAP ΓEPM L IΔ (Tiberius Claudius Caesar Germanicus, year 14).
Two crossed palm branches surrounded by Greek inscription
IOY/ ΛIA AΓ/ PIΠΠI/ NA
Inscription in wreath (Julia Agrippina).
Jerusalem 54 C.E
2.35g
Hendin 651; Meshorer 342
Ex-Barakat
Jay GT4
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Judaea First revolt Prutah𐤔𐤍𐤕 𐤔𐤕𐤉𐤌
(Year Two) in ancient Hebrew script, amphora with broad rim and two handles.
𐤇𐤓𐤕 𐤔 𐤉𐤅𐤍
Freedom of Zion in ancient Hebrew, vine leaf on a small branch.
Jerusalem, April 67-March 68 CE
2.42g
Hendin 6389 (6th); Hendin 1360 (5th)
Ex-Barakat
Jay GT4
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Attica: Athens TetradrachmArchaic head of Athena r., with almond shaped eye, wearing crested helmet
ornamented with three olive leaves and floral scroll, wire necklace, round
earring.
ΑΘΕ right
owl standing right, head facing, erect in posture, prong tail, to left olive twig
and crescent, all within incuse square
16.8g
SNG Copenhagen 13; Sydenham 2526
ex-Time Machine Vcoins Sept 6, 2011
New Picture Jay GT4
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Macedon: Philip III TetradrachmHead of Herakles right, wearing Nemean Lion skin, scalp over head, forepaws tied at neck
Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, eagle in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand, right leg drawn back, ΦIΛIΠΠOY downward on right, BAΣIΛEΩΣ in exergue, radiate head of Helios facing on left, KY under throne
Struck under Archon, Dokimos, or Seleukos I,
c. 323 - 317 B.C
Babylon mint, 17.056g, 29.2mm, die axis 90o,
Price P205, Müller Alexander P117, SNG Cop 1083, SNG Alpha Bank -, SNG Saroglos -
Ex-Forum!
Coins from this issue were struck in the names of both of Alexander the Great's co-ruling heirs. Most, including this example, were struck in the name of his brother Philip III, but some were struck in the name of his son Alexander IV. During this period, Archon, Dokimos, and Seleukos I ruled in succession as Macedonian satraps in Babylon. Archon was appointed satrap of Babylonia after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. Perdiccas suspected Archon of colluding in the theft of Alexander's corpse and, in 321 B.C., sent Dokimos to replace him. Archon was defeated and died from battle wounds. Seleucus, was made satrap by Perdiccas' rival Antipater, arrived in Babylon in October or November 320 B.C. and defeated Dokimos.
Jay GT4
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Phonecia, Tyre half shekelLaureate bust of Melkart right
ΤΥΡΟΥ ΙΕΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΣΥΛΟΥ (of Tyre the holy and inviolable)
Eagle standing left on prow; palm over shoulder, club to the left, flanked by date LM (40) and monogram ΔP to the right.
Tyre; Year 40= 87/86 BC
6.98g
Sear 5921; BMC 225
Ex-HJB Buy or Bid Sale 206, lot 103 (Nov 15, 2018); Ex-Calgary Coin
Removed from NGC holder prior to HJB.
NGC graded Strike 4/5, Surface 3/5; NGC 4278263-010
According to the Mosaic law, every year, Jewish males over the age of 20, paid a half shekel tax in silver to the Temple in Jerusalem. Mention of this tax can be found in the Bible at Exodus 30:15 Of course, at the time of writing there were no coins in circulation and this tax was paid by weight in silver. By the 1st century BC the tax was paid in either the Tyrian shekel (enough for two people) or half-shekel (for himself). The Jewish Talmud required the tax to be paid with a coin of high purity silver. The only ones that conformed to this high standard were the 94% pure silver Tyrian shekels. Even though these coins depict images of Melkart (Phoenician Hercules) and an eagle, they were still accepted at the temple because of the silver content. Jay GT4
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Thasos, Thrace TetradrachmHead of young Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy
HPAKΛEOYΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ ΘΑΣΙΩΝ
Heracles standing facing, head left, right hand resting on club, lion skin in left
Monogram in left field
34mm, 16.82g
Thasos
c. 148-90/80 BC
SNG Copenhagen 1040
ex-ANE
"Hercules is the savior of the people of Thasos!"Jay GT4
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Persian Achaemenid Siglos Type IIIKneeling-running figure of the Great King right, transverse spear with point downward in right, bow in left, bearded, crowned.
Incuse punch
Sardis mint. c. 490 - 475 BC
5.42g
Carradice Type IIIa. Darius I - Xerxes I
Possibly introduced in connection with the accession of Xerxes, c. 485 BC
Ex-Savoca Coin
Jay GT4
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Persian Achaemenid Siglos Type IVArtaxerxes I, Darius II or Artaxerxes II
King running right, holding dagger and bow, pellets on right arm. Cross shaped bankers stamp before
Incuse punch
5.42 grams.
c. 455 - 375 B.C
Carradice type IV a or b
Ex-Calgary CoinJay GT4
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Myisa, Parion. HemidrachmGorgoneion
ΠA PI
Bull standing left, head turned to look back; kerykeion below
Mysia, Parion
350-300 BC
SNG BN -. Symbol not recorded in the standard reference.
2.20g
Ex-ANEJay GT4
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Judaea Porcius Festus PrutahÆ Prutah
KAICAPOC (Caesar) date LC (year 5 = 58 CE),
palm branch
NЄP ωNO C (Nero)
in wreath tied at the bottom with an X;
Caesarea mint
59-62 CE
2.87g
Reference: Hendin 653, SGIC 5627.
ex-Arcade CoinsJay GT4
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Judaea Alexander Jannaeus Widow's Mite Alexander Jannaeus
AE Lepton/Prutah
obverse Star of eight pellets within diadem, המלך יהונתן(King Alexander)
reverse ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ around anchor.
1.83g
Hendin 1150c (No visible Hebrew legend)
ex-Holyland coinsJay GT4
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Judaea Alexander Jannaeus Widow's MiteAlexander Jannaeus
AE Lepton/Prutah
obverse Star of eight pellets within diadem, המלך יהונתן(King Alexander)
reverse ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ around anchor.
1.57g
Hendin 1150c (No visible Hebrew legend)
ex-Holyland coinsJay GT4
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Judaea Alexander Jannaeus Widow's Mite Alexander Jannaeus
AE Lepton/Prutah
obverse Star of eight pellets within diadem, המלך יהונתן(King Alexander)
reverse ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ around anchor.
1.62g
Hendin 1150c (no visible Hebrew legend).
ex-Holyland coinsJay GT4
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Judaea Alexander Jannaeus Widow's Mite Alexander Jannaeus
AE Lepton/Prutah
obverse Star of eight pellets within diadem, המלך יהונתן(King Alexander)
reverse ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ around anchor.
0.94g
ex-Holyland coinsJay GT4
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Ptolemy XII or Cleopatra VII TetradrachmPtolemy XII (80-58 BC) or Cleopatra VII
AR Tetradrachm
Diademed head of Ptolemy I right
ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ
Eagle on thunderbolt left.
year (L) IH = 18 (=64-63 BC or 34-33 BC), PA to right
Listed as Alexandria mint, though the "PA" to the right suggests it was minted in Paphos, Cyprus.
SNG Cop-389
13.49g
Ex-ANE
IH is year 18 and in this context it is ambiguous - either 64BC (modern scholars like Morkholm, Noeske, etc.) or 34BC (Svoronos).
Hence this issue is either Ptolemy XII (modern interpretation) or Cleopatra VII ruling with Ptolemy XIV, Ptolemy XV or Ptolemy XVI (Svoronos interpretation).Jay GT4
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Attica: Athens TetradrachmArchaic head of Athena r., with almond shaped eye, wearing crested helmet
ornamented with three olive leaves and floral scroll, wire necklace, round
earring.
ΑΘΕ right
owl standing right, head facing, erect in posture, prong tail, to left olive twig
and crescent, all within incuse square
16.8g
SNG Copenhagen 13; Sydenham 2526
ex-Time Machine Vcoins
Jay GT4
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Judaea, Herod Agrippa I prutahAΓΡI ΠA BACIΛEWC
King Agrippa umbrella canopy with fringes
Three ears of barley between two leaves flanked by date L - ς
(year 6).
Jerusalem Mint 41-42 CE
Bronze Prutah
2.73g
Hendin 1244
Ex-Zurgieh
Herod Agrippa I was a son of Aristobulus and grandson of Herod the Great by Mariamne I, granddaughter of High Priest Hyrcanus II. His father Aristobulus had been put to death by Herod the Great. Named after Augustus best friend and genreal Marcus Agrippa, Herod Agrippa was the last of the Herods to become king of all Palestine, as his grandfather had been. Agrippa was educated in Rome with the Emperor Tiberius’ son Drusus and his nephew Claudius and he became a familiar figure in important circles in Rome.
An injudicious statement got Agrippa into trouble with Emperor Tiberius. In an unguarded moment he expressed the wish to Gaius (Caligula) that he, Gaius, might soon be emperor. Overheard by Agrippa’s servant, his remarks came to the ears of Tiberius, who cast Agrippa into prison. His life was in the balance for several months. Fortunately for Agrippa, Tiberius died and Caligula became emperor. He released Agrippa and elevated him to the position of king over the territories that his late uncle Philip had governed.
When Caligula was assassinated Agrippa was in Rome. He was able to act as liaison between the Senate and his friend, the new Emperor Claudius. Claudius expressed his appreciation by awarding him the territory of Judea and Samaria as well as the kingdom of Lysanias. Agrippa now became ruler of about the same dominion that his grandfather Herod the Great had held.
Jay GT4
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Phoenicia, Tyre ShekelAR Tetradrachm/Shekel.
Laureate bust of Melkart right, aegis draped about neck
ΤΥΡΟΥ ΙΕΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΣΥΛΟΥ (of Tyre the holy and inviolable)
Eagle standing left on prow; club before, flanked by date PM and KP to right, above monogram.
KP Jerusalem mint
PM Year 140 (14/15 CE).
Ex Calgary Coins, Ex. Hendin 919, RPC 4655.
13.29g
At the Great Temple in Jerusalem the annual tax levied was 1/2 shekel per male. The 1/2 shekel and shekel were the only coins accepted by the temple. Some experts believe that after the coinage of Tyre was debased under Roman control, Herod the Great began to strike "Tyre" shekels in Jerusalem. These coins were of cruder fabric and style, but maintained the silver purity required to pay the temple tax. The "Jerusalem" shekels have the letters KP or KAP to the right of the eagle and dates range from PH (18/17 B.C.) to PKE (69/70 A.D.). The Greek letters KP or KAP are probably an abbreviation for KAICAP, Greek for Caesar.
Jay GT4
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