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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Judean & Biblical Coins| ▸ |Roman Procurators| ▸ |Valerius Gratus||View Options:   | | | "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. |
In 18 A.D., Germanicus Caesar arrived in Syria, as the new commander for the Roman East. Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, governor of Syria, ignored Germanicus' order to send Syrian-based legions to Armenia to back his planned coronation of Artaxias III. Some Roman sources of the period suggest that Tiberius gave Piso secret instructions to thwart and control Germanicus. The following year Germanicus died at Antioch. On his deathbed he accused Piso of poisoning him. Tiberius was forced to order an investigation and a public trial in the Roman Senate for Piso. Piso committed suicide, though it was rumored that Tiberius, fearing incriminating disclosures, had him put to death.JD111783. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6369; Meshorer TJC 329; Sofaer pl. 219, 31; BMC Palestine p. 256, 46; RPC I 4966, VF, dark patina with highlighting earthen deposits, weight 2.339 g, maximum diameter 17.0 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, 24 - 25 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; ex CNG e-auction 510 (23 Feb 2022), lot 539; ex Dr. Jay M. Galst Collection;
Julia on the obverse, refers to Livia, wife of Augustus and mother of Tiberius. Livia took the name Julia Augusta after Augustus died.JD111326. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6362; Meshorer TJC 317; RPC I 4959; Sofaer 12; BMC Palestine p. 251, 5 & pl. XXVIII 8, 8, F, green patina, off center, ragged edge, weight 1.377 g, maximum diameter 16.0 mm, die axis 180o, 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);
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.JD111322. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6364, Meshorer TJC 321, Sofaer pl. 219, 18; BMC Palestine p. 253, 16 & pl. XXVIII, 11; RPC I 4961, F, dark patina with highlighting earthen deposits, porosity, ragged sprue cuts, weight 1.550 g, maximum diameter 15.4 mm, die axis 180o, Jerusalem mint, 16 - 17 A.D.; obverse IOY/ΛIA (Greek: Julia) 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;
The government of Gratus is chiefly remarkable for the frequent changes he made in the appointment of the high-priesthood. He deposed Ananus, and substituted Ismael, son of Fabi, then Eleazar, son of Arianus, then Simon, son of Camith, and lastly Joseph Caiaphas, the son-in-law of Ananus.JD111323. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6363; Meshorer TJC 320; Sofaer 15; RPC I 4960; BMC Palestine p. 252, 10, pl. XXVIII, 9, weight 1.754 g, maximum diameter 15.7 mm, die axis 225o, Jerusalem mint, 16 - 17 A.D.; obverse KAI/CAP (Greek: Caesar) in two lines within wreath; reverse TIBEPIOY (Greek: of Tiberius), two crossed cornucopia with caduceus between them, L - Γ (year 3 of Tiberius) across fields; very scarce;
Judaea, Valerius Gratus, Roman Prefect Under Tiberius, 15 - 26 A.D.
The government of Gratus is chiefly remarkable for the frequent changes he made in the appointment of the high-priesthood. He deposed Ananus, and substituted Ismael, son of Fabi, then Eleazar, son of Arianus, then Simon, son of Camith, and lastly Joseph Caiaphas, the son-in-law of Ananus.JD111324. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6363; Meshorer TJC 320; Sofaer 15; RPC I 4960; BMC Palestine p. 252, 10, pl. XXVIII, 9, F, dark patina, highlighting deposits, obv. edge beveled, edge ragged, scratches, weight 2.111 g, maximum diameter 15.8 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, 16 - 17 A.D.; obverse KAI/CAP (Greek: Caesar) in two lines within wreath; reverse TIBEPIOY (Greek: of Tiberius), two crossed cornucopia with caduceus between them, L - Γ (year 3 of Tiberius) across fields; very scarce;
Julia on the obverse, refers to Livia, wife of Augustus and mother of Tiberius. Livia took the name Julia Augusta after Augustus died.JD111325. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6362; Meshorer TJC 317; RPC I 4959; Sofaer 12; BMC Palestine p. 251, 5 & pl. XXVIII 8, 8, aF, grainy, porous, ragged sprue cuts, weight 2.132 g, maximum diameter 17.4 mm, die axis 180o, 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);
Judaea, Valerius Gratus, Roman Prefect Under Tiberius, 15 - 26 A.D., Cohors II Italica Civium Romanorum Countermark
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 σπειρα, 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;
In 18 A.D., Germanicus Caesar arrived in Syria, as the new commander for the Roman East. Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, governor of Syria, ignored Germanicus' order to send Syrian-based legions to Armenia to back his planned coronation of Artaxias III. Some Roman sources of the period suggest that Tiberius gave Piso secret instructions to thwart and control Germanicus. The following year Germanicus died at Antioch. On his deathbed he accused Piso of poisoning him. Tiberius was forced to order an investigation and a public trial in the Roman Senate for Piso. Piso committed suicide, though it was rumored that Tiberius, fearing incriminating disclosures, had him put to death.JD111317. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6368; Meshorer TJC 328; Sofaer pl. 219, 28; BMC Palestine p. 255, 38; RPC I 4965, Choice VF, centered, dark patina, highlighting earthen deposits, porosity, traces of flan casting sprues, weight 2.245 g, maximum diameter 15.3 mm, die axis 90o, Jerusalem mint, 18 - 19 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 - E (year 5 of Tiberius) in two lines across field;
In 18 A.D., Germanicus Caesar arrived in Syria, as the new commander for the Roman East. Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, governor of Syria, ignored Germanicus' order to send Syrian-based legions to Armenia to back his planned coronation of Artaxias III. Some Roman sources of the period suggest that Tiberius gave Piso secret instructions to thwart and control Germanicus. The following year Germanicus died at Antioch. On his deathbed he accused Piso of poisoning him. Tiberius was forced to order an investigation and a public trial in the Roman Senate for Piso. Piso committed suicide, though it was rumored that Tiberius, fearing incriminating disclosures, had him put to death.JD111318. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6368; Meshorer TJC 328; Sofaer pl. 219, 28; BMC Palestine p. 255, 38; RPC I 4965, VF, dark green patina, highlighting earthen deposits, slightly off center, reverse edge beveled, remnants of casting sprues, weight 2.233 g, maximum diameter 15.7 mm, die axis 180o, Jerusalem mint, 18 - 19 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 - E (year 5 of Tiberius) in two lines across field;
In 18 A.D., Germanicus Caesar arrived in Syria, as the new commander for the Roman East. Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, governor of Syria, ignored Germanicus' order to send Syrian-based legions to Armenia to back his planned coronation of Artaxias III. Some Roman sources of the period suggest that Tiberius gave Piso secret instructions to thwart and control Germanicus. The following year Germanicus died at Antioch. On his deathbed he accused Piso of poisoning him. Tiberius was forced to order an investigation and a public trial in the Roman Senate for Piso. Piso committed suicide, though it was rumored that Tiberius, fearing incriminating disclosures, had him put to death.JD111319. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6368; Meshorer TJC 328; Sofaer pl. 219, 28; BMC Palestine p. 255, 38; RPC I 4965, F, centered on a tight flan, dark patina, highlighting earthen deposits, traces of casting sprues, weight 2.025 g, maximum diameter 15.3 mm, die axis 180o, Jerusalem mint, 18 - 19 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 - E (year 5 of Tiberius) in two lines across field;
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