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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; $1600.00 SALE PRICE $1290.00
Judaea, Valerius Gratus, Roman Prefect Under Tiberius, 15 - 26 A.D.
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; $150.00 SALE PRICE $135.00
Judaea, Coponius, Roman Prefect under Augustus, 6 - 9 A.D.
In 6 A.D., Herod Archelaus, son of Herod the Great, was deposed and banished to Gaul by Augustus. Archelaus' part of his father's kingdom (including Judaea, Samaria, Idumea and Archelais) was (except for Archelais) organized as a Roman procuratorial province.JD110289. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6357; RIC I 4954; Meshorer TJC 311; Sofaer, pl. 219, 1; BMC Palestine p. 248, 1, F, dark patina, highlighting earthen deposits, porous, edge chip, weight 0.911 g, maximum diameter 15.4 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, 6 A.D.; obverse KAICAPOC (of Caesar), barley head curved right; reverse palm tree with eight branches and bearing two bunches of dates, L - ΛΣ (year 36 of Augustus) flanking tree trunk; from an Israeli collection; $140.00 SALE PRICE $126.00
Judaea, Pontius Pilate, Roman Prefect Under Tiberius, 26 - 36 A.D.
Pontius Pilate served under Emperor Tiberius and is best known from the biblical account of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. He was the fifth prefect of the Roman province of Judaea from 26 - 36 A.D. He is known from the New Testament, his coins, brief mention by Tacitus, Philo of Alexandria, Josephus, the Gospel of Nicodemus, the Gospel of Marcion, other apocryphal works, and a stone in the Israel Museum inscribed with his name and "PRAEFECTUS IVDAEAE."JD111302. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6371; Meshorer TJC 333; Sofaer 38; BMC Palestine p. 259, 70; RPC I 4968, F, brown tone, highlighting earthen deposits, obv. off center, rev. edge beveled, prominent sprue cuts, weight 1.710 g, maximum diameter 14.7 mm, die axis 315o, Jerusalem mint, 30 A.D.; obverse TIBEPIOY KAICAPOC (of Tiberius Caesar), lituus (augural wand); reverse LIZ (year 17) within wreath; $120.00 SALE PRICE $108.00
Judaea, Valerius Gratus, Roman Prefect Under Tiberius, 15 - 26 A.D.
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; $120.00 SALE PRICE $108.00
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 SALE PRICE $108.00
Judaea, Antonius Felix, Roman Procurator under Claudius and Nero, 52 - 60 A.D., Brockage
Antonius Felix was the procurator before whom St. Paul was brought for trial. "And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ." - Acts 24:27JD111780. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6376f (also a brockage), Meshorer TJC 342g (same); cf. RPC I 4970 (normal coin), aVF, weight 2.464 g, maximum diameter 17.4 mm, Jerusalem mint, under Claudius, 54 A.D.; obverse IOY/ΛIA AΓ/PIΠΠI/NA (Julia Agrippina [wife of Claudius]) in four lines within a wreath tied at the bottom with an X; reverse same as obverse incuse and retrograde (brockage, normal reverse: two crossed palm fronds); ex CNG e-auction 510 (23 Feb 2022), lot 542; ex Dr. Jay M. Galst Collection; $120.00 SALE PRICE $108.00
Judaea, Pontius Pilate, Roman Prefect Under Tiberius, 26 - 36 A.D.
Pontius Pilate served under Emperor Tiberius and is best known from the biblical account of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. He was the fifth prefect of the Roman province of Judaea from 26 - 36 A.D. He is known from the New Testament, his coins, brief mention by Tacitus, Philo of Alexandria, Josephus, the Gospel of Nicodemus, the Gospel of Marcion, other apocryphal works, and a stone in the Israel Museum inscribed with his name and "PRAEFECTUS IVDAEAE."JD111308. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6370; Meshorer TJC 331; Sofaer 34; RPC I 4967; BMC Palestine p. 257, 54, F, green patina, obv. off center, spots of corrosion, weight 2.280 g, maximum diameter 16.1 mm, die axis 315o, Jerusalem mint, 29 A.D.; obverse IOYΛIA KAICAPOC, three bound heads of barley, the outer two heads drooping; reverse TIBEPIOY KAICAPOC (of Tiberius Caesar) and date LIΣ (year 16) surrounding simpulum (libation ladle); $110.00 SALE PRICE $99.00
Judaea, Valerius Gratus, Roman Prefect Under Tiberius, 15 - 26 A.D.
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.JD111320. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6368; Meshorer TJC 328; Sofaer pl. 219, 28; BMC Palestine p. 255, 38; RPC I 4965, VF, dark patina, highlighting earthen deposits, rev. edge beveled, weight 2.206 g, maximum diameter 16.3 mm, die axis 315o, 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; $110.00 SALE PRICE $99.00
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.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; $110.00 SALE PRICE $99.00
REFERENCES
Burnett, A., M. Amandry & P. Ripollčs. Roman Provincial Coinage I: From the death of Caesar to the death of Vitellius (44 BC-AD 69). (London, 1992 & supplements).
Fontanille, J. Menorah Coin Project, website: http://menorahcoinproject.com/
Hendin, D. Guide to Biblical Coins, 6th Edition. (Amphora, 2021).
Hill, G. Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum: Palestine. (London, 1914).
Meshorer, Y. A Treasury of Jewish Coins from the Persian Period to Bar Kokhba. (Jerusalem, 2001).
Meshorer, Y., et al. Coins of the Holy Land: The Abraham and Marian Sofaer Collection at the American Numismatic Society and The Israel Museum. ACNAC 8. (New York, 2013). RPC Online - http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/
Sear, D. Greek Coins and Their Values, Volume 2: Asia and Africa. (London, 1979). Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Denmark, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Vol. 7: Cyprus to India. (West Milford, NJ, 1982). Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, USA, The Collection of the American Numismatic Society, Part 6: Palestine - South Arabia. (New York, 1981).
Catalog current as of Friday, June 2, 2023. Page created in 1.813 seconds.