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Home > Members' Coin Collection Galleries > Nemonater > Judean / Samarian / Philistian

Bacchivs.jpg
A. PlautiusA. Plautius 54 BCE, denarius, 21mm., Rome mint. O: Turreted head of Cybele right, A PLAVTIVS before, AED CVR SC behind. R: Bacchius (Aristobulus II) kneeling right, extending olive branch, camel at side, BACCHIVS in exergue, IVDAEVS on right. Hendin 1443

The 'Bacchius the Jew' kneeling on the reverse is most likely Judah Aristobulus II, who usurped the throne of Judea from his brother John Hyrcanus II between 67 and 63 BC. In 63 BCE, Pompey the Great sided with Hyrcanus and subjected Jerusalem to a brutal siege and sacking, deposing Aristobulus II. Pompey went so far as to enter the Holy of Holies, defiling the sanctuary and marking the end of the great Hasmonean dynasty.

The Romans now had a foot in the door and were not about to remove it. Hyrcanus became a Roman ethnarch, one who ruled by the grace of the Romans, dependent on their goodwill and support to retain his throne.

Aristobulus was permitted to live as a hostage in Rome, but later escaped and tried to resume the throne, only to be defeated again by M. Aemilius Scaurus. This issue celebrates this unsuccessful attempt to regain control of Judaea.

Behind the scenes, a rich Idumaean chieftain named Antipater continued to manipulate Hyrcanus and to pander to Rome, building influence and power. This set the stage for the eventual rise to power of his infamous son, Herod the Great.

Except for the inscription, this coin is of the same reverse type as Hendin 1441.
2 commentsNemonater
Hendin1240web.jpg
Alexander_JannaeusComp.jpg
Alexander JannaeusAlexander Jannaeus, 103-76 BC, Bronze lepton, Jerusalem mint, 80/79 BCE. 14.6 mm, 1.12g. O: Aramaic inscription King Alexander Year 25, star of eight rays surrounded by border of dots. R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝ∆ΡΟΥ (of King Alexander) around anchor in circle, date at points of anchor, L KE (year 25). Hendin 1152

Help with inscription courtesy of Aarmale.
Nemonater
Lead_Prutah.jpg
Alexander JannaeusAlexander Jannaeus, 103-76 BC. Lead Prutah/Token, Transjordan mint, 79/78 BCE?, 15.6 mm, 2.7 grams. O: Aramaic legend (King Alexander) in three lines within a dotted circle. R: Anchor in a circle with Greek legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝ∆ΡΟΥ (of King Alexander) around. Hendin 1155, reverse appears to be a match with Menorah Coins die #1.

This coin is a bit of a mystery and therefore quite interesting. These were at one one time extremely rare and therefore not believed to be a coin at all but rather a trial specimen or a token used to gain entrance to an establishment. As hoards were discovered, it became apparent that this coin was common (although far more rare than his bronze issues) and in general circulation in the Transjordan.

Although the lead coins are not dated, the similar Aramaic inscription found on the dated prutah of Jannaeus (Hendin 1152, shown in my collection, dated year 25 = 80/79 BCE) indicates it may have been minted around 79 BCE. These are the only types of Jannaeus that have an Aramaic inscription.

The appearance of both Greek and Aramaic on these coins may reflect a softening of Jannaeus (a staunch supporter of the Hellenistic Sadducees) toward the Aramaic speaking Pharasees.
1 commentsNemonater
Alexander_Jannaeus_(Yehonatan).jpg
Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan)Alexander Jannaeus 103-76 BCE. Prutah, Jerusalem mint. 15mm, 1.51 g. O: Paleo-Hebrew inscription: Yehonatan the King around lily; R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝ∆ΡΟΥ (King Alexander in Greek), anchor upside down, within inner circle. Hendin 1148

These coins are reminiscent of those issued by Hyrcanus I and Antiochus VII. Restoring the anchor design highlighted his conquest of a number of Mediterranean coastal cities.
Nemonater
Zuz_Domitian.jpg
Bar Kokhba Revolt Zuz - Domitian UndertypeJudaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.22 g), 132-135 CE. Undated, attributed to year 3 (134/5 CE).
O: 'Simon' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion at top and tendrils at bottom.
R: 'For the freedom of Jerusalem' (Paleo-Hebrew), fluted jug with handle on left; in right field, willow branch. Partial portrait of Domitian to left.
- Hendin 1418; Mildenberg 79 (O14/R51); TJC 283., ex S. Moussaieff Collection.

For more about the Moussaieff Collection, see https://coinsweekly.com/munich-auction-house-offers-objects-from-the-moussaieff-collection/
1 commentsNemonater
VespZuz.jpg
Bar Kokhba Revolt Zuz - Vespasian UndertypeJudaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt 132 – 135 CE Silver denarius / Zuz, 3.39 gr. Overstruck on a denarius of Vespasian.
O: Paleo-Hebrew inscription in wreath: “Shimon".
R: Lyre. Paleo-Hebrew inscription: "To the freedom of Jerusalem"
- Mildenberg 130; Meshorer TJC 272c; Hendin 1429. Ex Menashe Landman collection, Haifa.
5 commentsNemonater
DomitianLXF.jpg
Domitian Sebaste, Samaria Countermark LXFDomitian Ae 25mm, 14.02 g. Sebaste, Samaria. O: Laureate head of Domitian IMP DOMITIANVS CAESAR; Countermark: LXF, of the Tenth Legion Fretensis in rectangular punch. R: Tyche standing to left resting foot on rock(?) holding spear and globe, [CEBAC]THNWN (of the people of Sebaste); in l. field, date: LΘΡ (year 109 = 81/2 AD). Host coin - RPC II 2226, with LXF - Hendin 1613a.

The Tenth Legion probably acquired its name, Fretensis, from the Fretum Siculum, the straits where the legion fought successfully against Sextus Pompey.

It is undoubtedly most famous for its part in the destruction of Jerusalem under General Titus. Starting in 66 CE, Roman armies began fighting their way from the northern parts of Israel, down to Jerusalem.

Titus advanced on Jerusalem near Passover 70 C.E., trapping the residents and pilgrims inside the city. His forces stripped the Judean countryside of trees to build a 4.5-mile-long wall of pointed stakes around the capital.

In that year X Fretensis, in conjunction with V Macedonica, XII Fulminata, and XV Apollinaris, began the five month siege of Jerusalem that would result in what Jewish Bible scholar Alfred Edersheim described as a, “tribulation to Israel unparalleled in the terrible past of its history, and unequalled even in its bloody future.”

What was the Tenth Legion doing in Sebaste, Samaria? According to some scholars it was perhaps to defend against the appearance of a pseudo-Nero, who had garnered the support of the Parthians.
1 commentsNemonater
Hacksilber.jpg
Hacksilber Fragment, Earliest Coinage Period, Holy LandHacksilber Ingot, c. 8-6 centuries BC, Israel. 21 x 14 x 5 mm, 8.4 grams. Cut in antiquity from a larger piece. Possibly an overweight Pym or underweight Nezef?

Similar ingots were found at Ein Gedi, Israel in a terra cotta cooking pot, hidden in a building destroyed near the end of Iron Age II, early 6th century BC (Avi-Yonah Encylcopedia of the Holy Land, volume 2, p. 374.)

The basic weight in use was the shekel, weighing 11.4 g on average. Other weight groups include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Beqa, a half shekel (Ex. 38:26), 5.7 g. (2) Nezef, averaging 9.12 g. The Judaean equivalent to an Egyptian qedet. (3) Pym, 7.6 g. (1 Samuel 13:21) The Judaean equivalent to the Phoenician shekel.

The weight of this ingot is identical to the Mesopotamian shekel. During the 9th to 6th centuries BCE in the Assyrian and Babylonian empires, the common form of expressing prices was in quantities equivalent to one shekel (8.4 g) of silver.

In ancient times, livestock were often used in barter. Indicative of this is the fact that the Latin word for money (pecunia) is drawn from pecus, meaning “cattle.” However, livestock (Ge 47:17) and foodstuffs (1Ki 5:10, 11) were obviously not a convenient medium of exchange.

Instead, pieces of precious metals began to be used, the weight being checked at the time the transaction was made.

Ge 23:16 "Abraham weighed out to E′phron the amount of silver that he had spoken in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred silver shekels current with the merchants."; Jer 32:10 "Then I wrote in a deed and affixed the seal and took witnesses as I went weighing the money in the scales."

The usual Hebrew term translated as “money,” keseph, literally means “silver.” (Ge 17:12) There was no coined money in Israel during the First Temple Period (1006-586 BCE). Rather, it consisted of cut pieces of silver and gold, or molded for convenience into bars, rings, bracelets, having a specific weight. - Ge 24:22

At Judges 5:19, bâtsa‛ keseph, which is commonly rendered as, “No gain of silver did they take,” literally means to break off or cut off silver.
Nemonater
AntipasHalfUnit.jpg
Herod Antipas Half UnitHERODIANS. Herod Antipas (4 BCE - 39 CE). Tiberias Mint, Æ half denomination, 19.4mm, 5.3 g.
O: TIBE PIAC in two lines within wreath.
R: HPΩΔOY TETPAPXOY (Herod Tetrarch), vertical palm branch, L to left, ΛZ to right, (RY 37 = 33/34 CE)
Hendin-1212 in GBC 5; ex. Hendin; ex Leu Numismatic AG 2003 Auction 86 (part of) lot 494; ex. Teddy Kollek Collection, Mayor of Jerusalem from 1965-1993; Menorah Coin Project ANT 15, Die 02/R12; Sear certificate.

Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great and Malthace, a Samaritan woman. He was brought up in Rome with his brother Archelaus.

In Herod’s will, Antipas had been named to receive the kingship, but Herod changed his will, naming Archelaus instead. Antipas contested the will before Augustus Caesar, who upheld Archelaus’ claim but divided the kingdom, giving Antipas the tetrarchy of Galilee and Perea. “Tetrarch,” meaning ‘ruler over one fourth’ of a province, was a term applied to a minor district ruler or territorial prince.

Antipas married the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia. But on one of his trips to Rome, Antipas visited his half brother Herod Philip, the son of Herod the Great and Mariamne II (not Philip the tetrarch). While visiting, he became infatuated with Philip’s wife Herodias, who was quite the ambitious woman. He took her back to Galilee and married her, divorcing Aretas’ daughter and sending her back home. This insulting action brought war. Aretas invaded and Antipas suffered major losses before receiving orders from Rome for Aretas to stop.

According to Josephus, Herod's defeat was popularly believed to be divine punishment for his execution of John the Baptist. Tiberius ordered Vitellius, the governor of Syria, to capture or kill Aretas, but Vitellius was reluctant to support Herod and abandoned his campaign upon Tiberius' death in 37.

It was Herod Antipas’ adulterous relationship with Herodias that brought reproof from John the Baptizer. John was correct in reproving Antipas, because Antipas was nominally a Jew and professedly under the Law. This would lead to John's murder being schemed during a celebration of Antipas' birthday.

On the last day of Jesus’ earthly life, when he was brought before Pontius Pilate and Pilate heard that Jesus was a Galilean, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas who happened to be in Jerusalem. Herod, disappointed in Jesus, discredited him and made fun of him, then sent him back to Pilate, who was the superior authority as far as Rome was concerned. Pilate and Herod had been enemies, possibly because of certain accusations that Herod had leveled against Pilate. But this move on Pilate’s part pleased Herod and they became friends.
Nemonater
Herodwithscriptcopy.jpg
Herod I (the Great)Herod I (the Great). 40-4 BCE. Æ 8 Prutot, 22mm, 5.82 g. Samaria mint. Dated RY 3 (40 BCE). O: Ceremonial bowl (lebes) on tripod; date L Γ (Year 3) to left, monogram to right. Greek Inscription: BAΣIΛEΩΣ HPΩΔOÎ¥ (of King Herod.) R: Military helmet with cheek guards and straps, star above, palms flanking. Meshorer 44; Hendin 486; RPC I 4901.


Although there is debate over exactly what year “Year 3” refers to, the monogram TP may well indicate the third year of Herod’s tetrarchy. Josephus writes that Mark Antony appointed Herod as tetrarch (TETPAPXHΣ) in 42 B.C.E., which would bring us to 40/39 B.C.E. This is also when Herod was crowned as King of Judaea by the Roman Senate with the approval of Octavian (soon to be Augustus.)

This dating helps to explain the meaning of the obverse image of a soldier’s helmet. Although Herod was appointed as king, the Hasmonaean king, Mattathias Antigonus, was still ruling over Judea and did not recognize Roman authority. Herod would therefore have to raise an army, which he did, and, after a three month siege, conquered Jerusalem in 37 B.C.E.


Although Herod accomplished a great deal during his thirty-year + reign, including the building of massive palaces and amphitheaters and enlarging the temple, he is most remembered as a jealous, paranoid murderer, willing to do anything to maintain his political power.

Herod ordered the death of his Hasmonaean wife Mariamne and her brother Aristobulus. Later he had his two sons by Mariamne killed as well. This effectively eliminated the most serious threats to his power in Judaea. Caesar Augustus observed that it was safer to be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son. His wickedness reached its peak years later when, in fear of a rival king, he ordered the killing of all the boys two years of age and under in Bethlehem.

The Bible writer Matthew records Jesus’ birth taking place, “in the days of Herod the king.” A star led astrologers to Herod proclaiming the birth “of the one born king of the Jews.” The resulting slaughter of these children fulfilled the prophesy at Jeremiah 31:15, “This is what Jehovah has said, ‘In Ra′mah a voice is being heard, lamentation and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping over her sons. She has refused to be comforted over her sons, because they are no more.’”
4 commentsNemonater
Herod_IV_Philip_AE_21.jpg
Herod IV Philip with Augustus / Tetrastyle templeHerod IV Philip, with Augustus. 4 BCE-34 CE. Æ (21.5mm, 8.94 g, 12h). Caesarea Panias (Caesarea Philippi) mint. Dated RY 12 of Herod IV (8/9 CE).
O: Laureate head of Augustus right
R: Tetrastyle temple façade (Augusteum of Paneas); L I B (date) between columns.
Meshorer 97; Hendin 1221; RPC I 4940.
1 commentsNemonater
Hyrcanus_II.jpg
Hyrcanus II (Yonatan)Hyrcanus II, 67 and 63-40 BCE. Prutah, 14.7 mm, 1.85 g.
O: Paleo-Hebrew, Yonatan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews. Legible but in a "wild" or highly stylized version of the script.
R: Double cornucopias, pomegranate between. Hendin 1159.

After the death of Alexander Jannaeus in 76 BCE, his wife, Salome Alexandra (Shlomozion), ruled the land till her death in 67 BCE. During her reign The Pharisees, who had suffered intense misery under Alexander, now became the ruling class. Alexandra installed Alexander's oldest son, Hyrcanus II as high priest and the Sanhedrin was reorganized according to their wishes. In contrast to this, Alexander Jannaeus had supported the Sadducees. Hyrcanus II ruled for only a few months till his younger brother, Aristobulus II, led a successful rebellion and took the throne.

Although Hyrcanus II's Hebrew name is not known, it's theorized that the non-overstruck coins with the name Yonatan may belong to him.
1 commentsNemonater
PilateB.jpg
Irregular Pontius Pilate PrutahPontius Pilate under Tiberius
Barbaric Bronze prutah, 14mm. .85g
O: Crude TIBEPIOY KAICAPOC around lituus (pagan religious implement);
R: Illegible date (LIZ year 17?) within wreath
Nemonater
BarbPrutahWeb.jpg
Jewish War Year 2 irregular bronze prutahJewish War, 66-70 AD, irregular bronze prutah, 16.1 mm, 2.92 gm. Dated "year 2", struck 67/68 AD.
O: Amphora crude style and legend.
R: Vine leaf on tendril, crude style and legend.
Unique obverse die, Hendin-1360b, MCP 048 with R67

A scarcer irregular issue bronze coins of the Jewish War. Some believe that these were struck at a second mint, moving with the army. Recent data suggests that these were made at secondary quasi-official mints and accepted in circulation as regular coins.

"The most amazing thing is the high number of irregular dies (56 obverse & 74 reverse dies!) vs. the extreme rarity of irregular dies for the prutah of the 3rd year. Something important happened in the production of these prutot between the 2nd and the 3rd years of the revolt. Has an illegal workshop been closed after year 2? Or was there apprentice engravers employed at the regular mint on year 2 who were no longer employed on year 3?" - JPFontanille
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year_4web.jpg
Jewish War, 66-70 AD, bronze 1/8 shekel Bronze eighth denomination, 19 mm, 5.08 g, 69 - 70 A.D.
O: "To the redemption of Zion" in Hebrew, Omer cup with a pearled rim;
R: "Year four" in Hebrew, Lulav (myrtle, palm and willow branches tied together) flanked by an etrog (citron - small lemon like fruit) on both sides - Hendin 1369

During the fourth year of the Jewish War, the Romans had besieged the Jews in Jerusalem. There was a shortage of materials, and so, for the first time fractions of the shekel were minted in bronze. These are among the earliest examples of "siege money." Intended to pass as the equivalent in silver, they would have been redeemed for their face value at the end of a successful rebellion.

These siege pieces recall a time of despair and desperation in Jerusalem. Surrounded by Roman Legions under General Titus, intense starvation ravaged the city. Inhabitants were reduced to eating pieces of leather, belts and shoes. Josephus says that mothers even roasted and ate their own children. Simply having the appearance of good health implied a person was hiding food and would be reason enough to be murdered.
3 commentsNemonater
hyrcnIscript.jpg
John Hyrcanus (Yehohanan)John Hyrcanus, 135-104 BCE. Bronze Prutah, 15mm, 1.58g Jerusalem mint. O: Paleo-Hebrew inscription: Yonatan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews, {(HH)WHY NHK H NN B(HH)W LD DY} surrounded by wreath. R: Double cornucopia adorned with ribbons, pomegranate between horns, border of dots. Hendin 1141

From right to left: YHWHNN (Yehohanan) H (The) KHN (Priest) LD (Short of GDOL, high) W (And) B (HH) (Short of Haber which means the Council) DY (Short of YHWDEM which means the Jews) - Courtesy of Salem Alshdaifat

It is generally believed that the governing council referred to on the coins of Hyrcanus became known as the Sanhedrin during his reign or shortly after it. It was also during his reign that the sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes became well established. He died at the age of 60 years old after governing for 31 years.
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HyrcanusIAntiochusVII.jpg
John Hyrcanus with Antiochus VIIPrutah, Jerusalem mint, 132/131 BCE. 16mm, 2.71g. O: The Seleucid anchor. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ (of King Antiochus, Benefactor), Seleucid anchor upside down, date below, ΑΠΡ (year 181). R: Lily of Jerusalem.

This coin is significant in that the anchor makes its debut as a Jewish image.
1 commentsNemonater
Year2Shekel.jpg
Judaea, First Revolt Shekel, Year 2Judaea, First Jewish War AR Shekel. Dated year 2 (AD 67/8)
O: Hebrew script read from right to left SKL ISRAL “Shekel of Israel”, the date Shin Bet, "Year Two" of the revolution, above Omer cup with beaded rim
R: Hebrew script YRUSLIM H KDOSA “Jerusalem the Holy” around sprig of three pomegranates.

This coin was minted during times of great upheaval in Judaea as well as the rest of the Roman empire.

As Jewish factions were fighting for control in Jerusalem, General Vespasian's armies invaded Galilee in 67 CE with 60,000 men as they began the effort to quell the rebellion started a year earlier. Vespasian captured the commander of Galilee, Josephus ben Matthias, in the little mountain town of Jotapata, which fell after a fierce siege of 47 days. It was the second bloodiest battle of the revolt, surpassed only by the sacking of Jerusalem, and the longest except for Jerusalem and Masada.

Driven from Galilee, Zealot rebels and thousands of refugees arrived in Judea, causing even greater political turmoil in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, back in Rome in 68 CE, Nero commits suicide, plunging the Empire into a civil war. Galba, Otho and Vitellius would assume the purple till Vespasian, leaving the battle in Judaea to Titus, brought the matter to a conclusion in 69.
6 commentsNemonater
JudahAristobulusI.jpg
Judah Aristobulus I (Yehudah)Judah Aristobulus I, 104-103 BCE. Prutah, 13.7 mm, 2.27 g. O: Paleo-Hebrew inscription in wreath. Yehudah the High Priest and the Council of the Jews. R: Two cornucopias, adorned with ribbons, pomegranate between horns, border of dots. Hendin 1143

Aristobulus, the oldest son of Hyrcanus, was the first Hasmonean to officially take the title “King of the Jews.” This was the kingdom of a Levite priest, it was not a restoration of God’s kingdom in the line of King David of the royal tribe of Judah.
The Judaeans considered him heartless and cruel. This reputation appears completely justified even within his own family. After taking power he starved his mother to death in a dungeon and assassinated his brother. His rule lasted no more than a year.
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ScaurusHypsaeus.jpg
Marcus Aemilius Scaurus and Publius Plautius Hypsaeus, 58 B.C.Denarius, Rome mint, 4.08g, 18mm, 58 B.C.; O: Aretas, King of Nabataea, kneeling beside camel raising olive branch with fillet, M SCAVR / AED CVR above, EX - S C at sides, REX ARETAS in ex; reverse Jupiter in quadriga left, reins in right, hurling thunderbolt with left, scorpion below, P HVPSAEVS / AED CVR above, CAPTVM on right, C HVPSAE COS / PREIVE in ex. Hendin 1441.

When M. Aemilius, was governor of Syria, this type was struck to commemorate the defeat of Aretas III by Pompey's general Marcus Scaurus. Pub. Plautius was curule aedile with M. Aemilius in 58 BCE.

By making territorial concessions to Aretas III, Hyrcanus II induced the Nabataean king to join with him in the battle against his brother Aristobulus II. Their combined forces besieged Aristobulus II in Jerusalem in 65 BCE. At about this same time, Pompey's armies, led by Scaurus marched into the East. The brothers appealed to Rome to settle the dispute. Initially Scaurus favored Aristobulus II, but, in 62 BCE, Pompey ruled that Hyrcanus was the rightful king.
2 commentsNemonater
Mattatayah_Antigonus.jpg
Mattatayah AntigonusBronze prutah, 14mm, 1.53g. Jerusalem mint. O: Retrograde Paleo-Hebrew inscription, Mattatayah, surrounded by wreath and border of dots. R: Double cornucopia adorned with ribbons, barley grain between horns, border of dots. Hendin 1164

In 40 BCE, Mattatayah Antigonus, youngest son of Aristobulus II, bribed the Parthians to assist him in his invasion of Jerusalem. Josephus reports that after their conquest, Mattatayah tore into Hyrcanus II ears with his teeth in order to permanently disqualify him from being High Priest. Later this same year, the Roman Senate and Octavian appointed Herod King of Judaea.

After years of fighting, Herod, with the help of Roman troops under Gaius Sosius, took Jerusalem and captured Antigonus in 37 BCE. His later execution at Antioch ended five generations of Hasmonean rule, now replaced by what would become the Herodian Dynasty.
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PhilistiaOverstruck.jpg
PHILISTIA (PALESTINE), Overstruck DrachmPHILISTIA (PALESTINE), Uncertain mint. Mid 5th century-333 BC. AR Drachm (15mm, 3.95 g, 12h). Imitating Athens. Rotated 145 degrees and overstruck with same dies.
O: Helmeted head of Athena right
R: Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig left and crescent behind; all within incuse square.
-Cf. Gitler & Tal X.1D; HGC 10, –; CNG 82, lot 737 (same obverse die)

The Philistian coins belong to a stratum of autonomous municipal coinages that enabled daily trade without interference by the Persian administration. The Persian Empire did not care about the fiscal policy of its subjects, so long as the taxes were paid. Obviously, the provincials were free to choose their own coin-types. Like their Northern neighbors in Samaria and Jerusalem, the Philistians adopted the Attic coin standard, and a great many of their coins are imitations of the Attic coins circulating in the Levant.
2 commentsNemonater
Titus,_79-81_AD,_bronze_Judaea_Capta.jpg
Titus Caesarea Maritima W/CountermarkTitus, 79-81 AD, Ae 21.6 mm, 7.09 g. Caesarea Maritima Mint
O: Laureate head of Titus right, Greek text ΑYTΟΚΡ TΙT ΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ around.
R: Nike right, left foot on helmet, writing AY T KAIC with right hand upon shield, hanging from palm tree. Greek text IΟΥΔΑΙΑΣ ΕΑΛWΚΥΙΑΣ around w/ countermark, galley (emblem of the Legio X Fretensis) within rectangular incuse. Rare with countermark.
Hendin 1446 (prev. Hendin 743). AJC II supplement VII, 2

Caesarea Maritima, built by Herod the Great about 25 - 13 B.C., was named to flatter Augustus, the Caesar. It became the capital of Iudaea Province and the residence of the Roman procurators and governors including Pontius Pilatus, praefectus and Antonius Felix. In 66 A.D., the desecration of the local synagogue led to the disastrous Jewish revolt. After the revolt was suppressed, 2500 Jewish captives were slaughtered at Caesarea in Gladiatorial games held by Titus to celebrate his victory. Today, Caesarea's ruins lie on Israel's Mediterranean coast about halfway between Tel Aviv and Haifa, on the site of Pyrgos Stratonos ("Straton's Tower").
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GratusLargeAmphoraI.jpg
Valerius GratusJUDAEA, Procurators. Valerius Gratus. 15-26 CE. Æ Prutah 15mm, Jerusalem mint. Dated RY 4 of Tiberius (17 CE).
O: TIBEPIOC (Tiberius) above vine leaf and tendril on branch.
R: KAICAP (Caesar) above kantharos (drinking vessel) with scroll handles, L–Δ (date) across lower field.
Meshorer 325; Hendin 1337; RPC I 4962.

Gratus is best known for being the governor who removed High Priest Annas ben Seth, appointing Ishmael ben Phabi I, Eleazar ben Ananias and Josephus Caiphas. According to the Talmud, money was paid to obtain the position of High priest, leading to the frequent change in this appointment.

Caiphas officiated during Jesus’ earthly ministry and the early part of the apostles’ ministry. He presided as high priest over Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin, in company with his father-in-law Annas. [Mt 26:3, 57; Lu 3:2; Joh 11:49, 51; 18:13, 14, 24, 28] He and Annas called Peter and John before them and commanded them to stop preaching. [Ac 4:6, 18] Caiaphas was the high priest who authorized Saul to receive letters to the synagogue at Damascus for the arrest of Christians.—Ac 9:1, 2, 14

Interestingly, this coin might be the last issued by Gratus. Kenneth Lonnqvist suggests that Pontius Pilate may have replaced Gratus as early as 17/18 CE rather than 26. His arguement is based on both the metallurgy of the later coins as well as the palm branch iconography which "as far as Roman provincial coinage of Judaea is concerned-mostly or always connected with the arrival of a new Roman governor."
1 commentsNemonater
V_Gratus_Unlisted.jpg
Valerius Gratus HybridValerius Gratus, Roman Prefect under Tiberius, 15 - 26 AD, AE Prutah 17 mm 1.56 gm.
Unlisted Hybrid of Hendin 1332 obverse and 1333 reverse.
O: KAI CAP (Rather than "IOY ΛIA") within wreath.
R: Palm branch flanked by date, L B, (Year 2) 15 AD
(Hendin 1333d is KAI CAP retrograde within wreath.)
- TJC 319

Extremely rare. Four known, two are in my collection and one on Forvm, these three from the same dies.
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GratusHB.JPG
Valerius Gratus Hybrid IIValerius Gratus, Roman Prefect under Tiberius, 15 - 26 AD, AE Prutah 17 mm 1.56 gm.
Unlisted Hybrid of Hendin 1332 obverse and 1333 reverse.
O: KAI CAP (Rather than "IOY ΛIA") within wreath.
R: Palm branch flanked by date, L B, (Year 2) 15 AD
(Hendin 1333d is KAI CAP retrograde within wreath.)
- TJC 319

Extremely rare. Four known, two are in my collection and one on Forvm, these three from the same dies.
Nemonater
GratusCountermark.jpg
PersianKing.jpg
Yehud Persian King / FalconJUDAEA, Achaemenid Province, Yehud, Persian Period. Circa 375-332 BCE. AR Half Gerah or Hemiobol (7mm, 0.28 g)

O: Bearded Persian Great King, head right, wearing crown.
R: Falcon with wings spread and head right.
Hendin 1059; MCP YHD 15, O9/R10

The top of the 3 letters are visible. The most complete is the Yod, at bottom right of the right wing.

"The Yehud coinage is a series of small silver coins bearing the Aramaic inscription Yehud. They derive their name from the inscription YHD, "Yehud", the Aramaic name of the Achaemenid Persian province of Yehud; others are inscribed YHDH, the same name in Hebrew.

Yehud Medinata (Aramaic for "the province of Judah"), Yahud Medin'ta/Yahud Medinsa, or simply Yehud, was an autonomous province of the Persian Achaemenid Empire, roughly equivalent to the older kingdom of Judah but covering a smaller area, within the satrapy of Eber-Nari. The area of Yehud Medinata corresponded to the previous Babylonian province with the same name, formed after the fall of the kingdom of Judah to the Neo-Babylonian Empire (c.597 after its conquest of the Mediterranean east coast, and again in 585/6 BCE after suppressing an unsuccessful Judean revolt). Yehud Medinata continued to exist for two centuries, until being incorporated into the Hellenistic empires, following the conquests of Alexander the Great. - From Wikipedia

Persian Period shekel standard - 11.4 g.
Average Gerah - 0.48 g.
Average Half Gerah - 0.26 g.
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