Hyrcanus II was high priest during the rule of his mother, Salome Alexandra, 76 - 67 B.C. and was made king upon her death. Within a year he was deposed by his younger brother, Aristobulus II. Hyrcanus appealed to Nabataea and then to Rome for assistance. Pompey the Great took Jerusalem, inflicting heavy casualties (and entering, thus defiling, the Holy of Holies), and restored Hyrcanus. Hyrcanus was, however, denied the title of King and was a puppet of Rome. He was captured by the Parthians in 40 B.C. and was executed by Herod ten years later.

The coins struck in Hyrcanus' name may have been struck while his mother regent queen and he was high priest, 76 - 67 B.C., during his short reign as king and high priest, 76 B.C., or during his rule as ethnarch and high priest, 63 - 40 B.C. Types struck inscribed only Council of the Jews may have been struck during these periods or during the rule of his brother Aristobulus II.