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Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 103 - 76 B.C.
Unpopular, Jannaeus was pelted with citrons on Sukkot. Enraged, he killed some 6,000 citizens. A revolt erupted and rebels called on the Seleucid King Demetrius III for aid. Demetrius forced him into the mountains but then withdrew. Back in power, Jannaeus crucified 800 rebels forcing them to watch the slaughter of their wives and children from their crosses.JD98781. Bronze lepton, Hendin 6183 (RR); BMC Palestine p. 199, 9; Meshorer TJC O; Sofaer 220; Meshorer AJC B; HGC 10 643; SNG ANS -, F, earthen deposits, remnant of a pre-strike casting sprue, weight 1.293 g, maximum diameter 13.7 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, 103 - 76 B.C.; obverse Paleo-Hebrew legend counterclockwise from upper left: (Yehonatan the King), palm branch upright; reverse lily; from an Israeli collection, first specimen of this type handled by FORVM; very rare; $1250.00 (€1150.00)
Judaea, Valerius Gratus, Roman Prefect Under Tiberius, 15 - 26 A.D.
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; $120.00 (€110.40)
Judaean Kingdom, John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan), 134 - 104 B.C., For the Seleukid King Antiochus VII
Hendin lists four varieties of this type AΠP (year 181) below (Hendin 6165), AΠP (year 181) beside the anchor on left (Hendin 6165a), BΠP (year 182) below (Hendin 6165b), and BΠP (year 182) beside the anchor on left (Hendin 6165c). Houghton and Lorber list a variety without a date (Houghton-Lorber 2123), but the date is probably just off flan, as on this example.JD98719. Bronze prutah, Houghton-Lorber II 2123, Hendin 6165, HGC 9 1103, Meshorer TJC p. 30, aVF, green patina, light earthen deposits, tiny edge cracks, obverse edge beveled, weight 2.550 g, maximum diameter 15.2 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, 132 - 130 B.C.; obverse lily on stem with two leaves, dot border; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EYEPΓETOY (Greek: of King Antiochus, Benefactor), anchor, upside down, AΠP or BΠP (Greek: year 181 or 182 of the Seleucid Era) below; $110.00 (€101.20)
Judaean Kingdom, John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan), 134 - 104 B.C., For the Seleukid King Antiochus VII
Struck by John Hyrcanus, King of Judaea, in the name of the Seleukid King Antiochos VII, Euergetes (Sidetes). John Hyrcanus was the son of Simon the Maccabee and nephew of the folk hero Judah Maccabee, the hero of the Hanukkah story. Soon after Hyrcanus assumed power, the Seleukid king marched on Jerusalem. Antiochus VII and Hyrcanus I negotiated a treaty that left Hyrcanus a vassal to the Syrian king. Probably as a conciliatory gesture to the Jews, the lily (a symbol of Jerusalem) replaced the head of the Seleukid king. Later, John Hyrcanus would be the first Jewish ruler to issue coins in his own name.JD98776. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6165b, Houghton-Lorber II 2123(3), SNG Spaer 2140, Houghton CSE 833, SGCV II 7101, HGC 9 1103, Meshorer TJC p. 30, aVF, highlighting earthen deposits, obv. double struck, inscription/date weak, scratches, tiny edge crack, obv. edge beveled, weight 2.760 g, maximum diameter 15.4 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, 131 - 130 B.C.; obverse lily on stem with two leaves, dot border; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EYEPΓETOY (Greek: of King Antiochus, Benefactor), anchor, upside down, ΒΠΡ (Greek: year 182 of Seleukid Era) below; from an Israeli collection; $100.00 (€92.00)
Judaean Kingdom, John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan), 134 - 104 B.C., For the Seleukid King Antiochus VII
Hendin lists four varieties of this type AΠP (year 181) below (Hendin 1131), AΠP (year 181) beside the anchor on left (Hendin 1131a), BΠP (year 182) below (Hendin 1131b), and BΠP (year 182) beside the anchor on left (Hendin 1131c). Houghton and Lorber list a variety without a date (Houghton-Lorber 2123), but the date is probably just off flan.JD98777. Bronze prutah, Houghton-Lorber II 2123(2), Hendin 6165, HGC 9 1103, Meshorer TJC p. 30 - 31, aVF, well centered, dark green patina with lighter green highlighting, tiny edge cracks, porosity, obv. edge beveled, weight 1.562 g, maximum diameter 13.8 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, 132 - 131 B.C.; obverse lily on stem with two leaves, dot border; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EYEPΓETOY (Greek: of King Antiochus, Benefactor), anchor, upside down, AΠP (Greek: year 181 of the Seleucid Era) below; from an Israeli collection; $100.00 (€92.00)
Judean Kingdom, Herod the Great, 37 - 4 B.C.
Very rare in this condition with such a bold strike.
The caduceus is the wing-topped staff, with two snakes winding about it, carried by Hermes. According to one myth it was given to him by Apollo. The caduceus was carried by Greek heralds and ambassadors and became a Roman symbol for truce, neutrality, and noncombatant status. The Herodians were friends to Rome and the caduceus was an appropriate symbol of that relationship.JD98782. Bronze two prutot, Hendin 6206 (R); Meshorer TJC p. 221, 46; Sofaer p. 257, 12; HGC 10 653 (S); BMC Palestine p. 222, 17; RPC I 4903, aF/F, highlighting earthen deposits, flan split, slightly rough, weight 3.119 g, maximum diameter 17.7 mm, die axis 0o, Samaria mint, 37 B.C.; obverse HPΩΔOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ (Greek: of King Herod), winged caduceus, date LΓ on left and monogram P on right; reverse poppy pod on stem with leaves, fillet left and right; from an Israeli collection; rare; $100.00 (€92.00)
German States, Prince-Bishopric of Bamberg, Arnold von Solms, 1286 - 1296 A.D.
Bamberg is a town in northern Bavaria, Germany, laid out over seven hills where the Regnitz and Main rivers meet. The town dates back to the 9th century, when its name was derived from the nearby Babenberch castle. Its old town preserves structures from the 11th to 19th centuries including the muraled Altes Rathaus (town hall), which occupies an island in the Regnitz reached by arched bridges. The Romanesque Bamberg Cathedral, begun in the 11th century, features four towers and numerous stone carvings. Cited as one of Germany's most beautiful town, with medieval streets and Europe's largest intact old city wall, the old town of Bamberg has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.ME92099. Silver bracteate pfennig, Krug Bamberg 87, VF, toning, uneven strike with unstruck area, weight 17.43 g, maximum diameter 0.434 mm, die axis 0o, Bamberg mint, 1286 - 1296 A.D.; obverse eight point rosette or star within linear circle, surrounded by four alternating crescents and crosses with pellets between them; reverse incuse of the obverse; $90.00 (€82.80)
Judaean Kingdom, John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan), 134 - 104 B.C., For the Seleukid King Antiochus VII
Struck by John Hyrcanus, King of Judaea, in the name of the Seleukid King Antiochos VII, Euergetes (Sidetes). John Hyrcanus was the son of Simon the Maccabee and nephew of the folk hero Judah Maccabee, the hero of the Hanukkah story. Soon after Hyrcanus assumed power, the Seleukid king marched on Jerusalem. Antiochus VII and Hyrcanus I negotiated a treaty that left Hyrcanus a vassal to the Syrian king. Probably as a conciliatory gesture to the Jews, the lily (a symbol of Jerusalem) replaced the head of the Seleukid king. Later, John Hyrcanus would be the first Jewish ruler to issue coins in his own name.JD98143. Bronze prutah, Houghton-Lorber II 2123(2), Hendin 6165, HGC 9 1103, Meshorer TJC p. 30 - 31, VF, tight flan, obverse off center, highlighting earthen deposits, reverse edge beveled, weight 2.830 g, maximum diameter 15.2 mm, die axis 45o, Jerusalem mint, 132 - 131 B.C.; obverse lily on stem with two leaves, dot border; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EYEPΓETOY (Greek: of King Antiochus, Benefactor), anchor, upside down, AΠP (Greek: year 181 of the Seleucid Era) below; from an Israeli collection; $90.00 (€82.80)
Rhodos, Carian Islands, 188 - 84 B.C.
In 190 B.C. a fleet from Rhodes defeated the Seleucid fleet under command of the fugitive Carthaginian general Hannibal. Rhodes was rewarded with territory and enhanced status, but clearly Rome now ruled the world and autonomy was dependent upon good relations. Those good graces evaporated in the wake of the Third Macedonian War. Rhodes had remained scrupulously neutral, but some Senators felt she had been too friendly with the defeated King Perseus. Some even proposed declaring war. In 164, Rhodes became a permanent ally of Rome, ending an independence that no longer had meaning. It was said that the Romans ultimately turned against the Rhodians because the islanders were the only people they had encountered who were more arrogant than themselves.GB99139. Bronze AE 15, SNG Cop 797; BMC Caria p. 250, 225; SNG Keckman 725 ff. var. (various controls in lower fields); HGC 6 1475 (S), VF, green patina, light earthen deposits, small edge chips, weight 1.950 g, maximum diameter 15.4 mm, die axis 0o, Rhodos (Rhodes, Greece) mint, 188 - 84 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Zeus right; reverse rose superimposed on solar disk with top of disk and rays rising above, bud on each side, P-O flanking in lower fields, no visible controls; scarce; $90.00 (€82.80)
Byzantine Empire, Andronicus II Palaeologus, 1282 - 24 May 1328 A.D.
Under Andronicus II the empire permanently declined. His grandson, Andronicus III, rebelled and defeated him. He was forced to abdicate, retired as a monk and died 13 Feb 1332.BZ98880. Bronze trachy, DOC V 789; B-D LPC p. 224, 32; Bendall PCPC 239; Grierson 1454; SBCV 2393; Sommer 79.31; Lianta 679, aVF, scyphate, dark near black patina, long crack, irregularly shaped flan, weight 1.185 g, maximum diameter 22.9 mm, die axis 0o, Thessalonica (Salonika, Greece) mint, 1282 - 24 May 1328 A.D.; obverse large six-petal flower; reverse Andronicus standing facing, holding a large B in each hand (the left B reversed); scarce; $65.00 (€59.80)