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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Judean & Biblical Coins| ▸ |Hasmonean Dynasty||View Options:   | | | The Maccabees were Jewish rebel warriors that took control of Judea, which at the time had been a part of the Seleucid Empire. They founded the Hasmonean dynasty, which ruled Judea from 167 BCE to 37 BCE, as a fully independent kingdom from about 140 to 63 BCE. They reasserted the Jewish religion, partly by forced conversion, expanded the boundaries of Judea by conquest and reduced the influence of Hellenism and Hellenistic Judaism. Independent Hasmonean rule lasted until 63 BCE, when the Roman general Pompeus intervened in Hasmonean civil war, making it a client kingdom of Rome. The Hasmonean dynasty ended in 37 BCE when the Idumean Herod the Great became king of Israel, designated "King of the Jews" by the Roman Senate, effectively transforming the Hasmonean Kingdom into the Herodian Kingdom - a client kingdom of Rome. |
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; 
Lot of 8 High Grade Judaean Prutot, Hasmonean Dynasty, 134 - 37 B.C.
The Hasmonean dynasty was a ruling dynasty of Judea and surrounding regions during classical antiquity, from c. 140 BC to 37 BC. Between c. 140 and c. 116 BC the dynasty ruled Judea semi-autonomously in the Seleucid Empire, and from roughly 110 BC, with the empire disintegrating, Judea gained further autonomy and expanded into the neighboring regions of Perea, Samaria, Idumea, Galilee, and Iturea. Some modern scholars regard the Hasmonean realm as an independent Israel. The Hasmonean rulers took the Greek title basileus ("king" or "emperor"). Forces of the Roman Republic conquered the Hasmonean kingdom in 63 BC and made it into a client state.LT112453. Bronze Lot, 8 ancient Judaean prutot, attractive coins, unattributed, no tags or flips, the actual coins in the photographs, as-is, no returns, 8 prutot;
Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 104 - 76 B.C., Plate Coin
Lead tesserae (tokens) were likely issued by the monarch to the poor to be redeemed for food or other commodities. Meshorer reports the lead tesserae of Alexander Jannaeus are found almost exclusively in Transjordan. This is the plate coin in Meshorer's Jewish Coins of the Second Temple Period (Tel-Aviv, 1967), at which time the coin was in the Grosswirth Collection.JD111754. Lead tessera, Meshorer 2nd Temple pl. II, 7 (this coin), Hendin 6192 (S), Meshorer TJC M, Meshorer AJC D, HGC 10 645, gF, green-gray surfaces, earthen deposits, cleaning scratches, weight 4.019 g, maximum diameter 18.5 mm, Transjordan mint, 95 - 76 B.C.; obverse Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY (of King Alexander), anchor (upside-down as if hanging on the side of a boat), inside circle; reverse traces of Aramaic inscription, King Alexander, in three lines, within a border of dots; ex CNG e-auction 510 (23 Feb 2022), lot 283; ex Dr. Jay M. Galst Collection; Herb Kreindler (May 1985); ex E. Grosswirth Collection ; very scarce;
Judean Kingdom, Mattathias Antigonus (Mattatayah), 40 - 37 B.C.
This large bronze type was meant to impress the population and improve support for Antigonus against his rival Herod the Great. Parthia took Judaea in 40 B.C. and made Mattathias Antigonus their vassal King. After Antigonus bit off his ears to render him ineligible for High Priest, Hyrcanus II was sent to Babylon in chains. Herod fled to Rome but returned with Roman support and took Jerusalem in 37 B.C. Dio Cassius says Antigonus was crucified but most accounts say he was beheaded.JD112389. Bronze eight prutot, Meshorer TJC 36, Hendin 6197, SNG Cop 64, SNG ANS 185, HGC 10 646 (S), aVF, reverse off center , weight 13.752 g, maximum diameter 25.2 mm, Jerusalem mint, 40 - 37 B.C.; obverse Paleo-Hebrew inscription: Mattatayah the High Priest and Council of the Jews, around and between the horns of a double cornucopia; reverse BACIΛEΩC ANTIΓONOY (of King Antigonus), ivy wreath tied at the top with ribbons hanging down; scarce;
Judean Kingdom, John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan), 134 - 104 B.C.
Hendin's Guide to Biblical Coins did not assign this very rare "classical style" Rosh variant a Hendin number until the sixth edition, printed in 2021. Meshorer's A Treasury of Jewish Coins includes it as part of type I, along with Rosh types with a wedge style Paleo-Hebrew inscription.JD97670. Bronze prutah, Meshorer TJC I62 (similar style), Hendin 6169 (RR), Sofaer 165, HGC 10 628, VF, most legend on flan, dark patina with highlighting red earthen fill, some light corrosion, obv. edge beveled, weight 1.966 g, maximum diameter 14.8 mm, die axis 45o, Jerusalem mint, 134 - 104 B.C.; obverse Paleo-Hebrew inscription with blundered careless classical style: Yehonanan the High Priest and Head (Rosh) of the Council of the Jews, surrounded by wreath; reverse two cornucopias splayed outward, adorned with ribbons, pomegranate or poppy between the horns, A lower right (not visible); rare;
Judean Kingdom, John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan), 134 - 104 B.C.
 | This type has a Greek letter A above the Paleo-Hebrew inscription. The inscription reads, from right to left, as follows: YHW(HH)NN (Yehohanan) / H (the) KHN (Priest) H (the) G/DL (high) W (and) (HH)BR (council) H (the) / YHWDYM (Jews). See Reading |Judean |Coins in NumisWiki. |
Judean Kingdom, John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan), 134 - 104 B.C.
 | The classical style Paleo-Hebrew inscription reads, from right to left, as follows: YHW(HH)N[N] (Yehohanan, second nun missing) / H (the) KHN (Priest) H (the) G/DL (high) H (the) (HH)BR (council) H (the) / YDH[Y]M (Jews, dalet and he reversed, second yod missing, mem blundered). See Reading Judean Coins in NumisWiki. |
Judean Kingdom, Judah Aristobulus I (Yehudah), 104 - 103 B.C.
 | The block style Paleo-Hebrew inscription reads, from right to left: YHWD/H (Judah) KHN (priest) GD/WL (high) W (and) (HH)BR (council) / H (the) YHWD/MY (Jews). See Reading Judean Coins in NumisWiki. |
Judean Kingdom, John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan), 134 - 104 B.C.
John Hyrcanus was the son of Simon the Maccabee and nephew of the folk hero Judah Maccabee, hero of the Hanukkah story. Soon after Hyrcanus assumed power, the Seleukid kingdom marched on Jerusalem. Antiochus VII and Hyrcanus I negotiated a treaty that left Hyrcanus a vassal to the Syrian king. John Hyrcanus was the first Jewish ruler to issue coins in his own name.JD111423. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6175a, Meshorer TJC G, Sofaer 114, HGC 10 631, VF, crude inscription, ragged edge, rev. edge beveled, sprue remnants, weight 2.556 g, maximum diameter 16.2 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, 134 - 104 B.C.; obverse crude blundered Paleo-Hebrew inscription surrounded by wreath; reverse two cornucopias splayed outward, adorned with ribbons, pomegranate or poppy between the horns;
Judean Kingdom, Mattathias Antigonus (Mattatayah), 40 - 37 B.C.
Parthia took Judaea in 40 B.C. and made Mattathias Antigonus their vassal King. After Antigonus bit off his ears to render him ineligible for High Priest, Hyrcanus II was sent to Babylon in chains. Herod fled to Rome but returned with Roman support and took Jerusalem in 37 B.C. Dio Cassius says Antigonus was crucified but most accounts say he was beheaded.JD112388. Bronze four prutot, Meshorer TJC 37, Hendin 6198, Sofaer 427, SNG ANS 189, SNG Cop 65, HGC 10 647 (S), F, off center, scratches, both sides beveled, pre-strike flan casting seam and remnants of sprues, weight 6.552 g, maximum diameter 19.1 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, 40 - 37 B.C.; obverse Paleo-Hebrew inscription: Mattatayah the High Priest, single cornucopia tied with ribbons, overflowing with grapes; reverse Greek inscription in three lines: BACIΛ/EΩC ANT/IΓONOY (of King Antigonus), within wreath tied at the bottom; scarce;
DECENDANTS OF MATTATHIAS - THE MACCABEES
REFERENCES
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