Catalog

Mattathias Antigonus, 40-37 BCE. Æ-Prutah, Jerusalem; 1,17 g.

Traces of the palaeo-Hebrew inscription MTTYH KHN GDL (Mattathias the High Priest) around the Show-bread table (without breads)//Traces of the Greek Inscription BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΓΟΝΟΥ ([Coin] of the king Antigonos) around the Menorah. Hendin no. 1168; Meshorer, Treasury 220 no. 41.

Extremely rare. Very fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 78.

There is some disagreement as to whether these coins were minted at the beginning or at the end of Mattathias's reign, cf. I. Goldstein - J.-Ph. Fontanille, The Small Denominations of Mattathias Antigonus: Die Classification and Interpretations, INR 8, 2013, 55-71. For the symbolic meaning of the Menorah cf. Romanoff, Jewish Symbols on Ancient Jewish Coins, New York 1944 (1971), 33-37; J. Voß, Die Menora. Gestalt und Funktion des Leuchters im Tempel zu Jerusalem, Freiburg (CH)/Göttingen 1993, 69.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-8 Prutot, year 3 = 40 BCE, Samaria; 5,8 g.

Helmet with cheek pieces, star on the top and two strips (of a diadem) hanging down in frontal view, flanked by palm fronds//HPΩΔΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ around tripod with vessel (lebes), in the l. field L Γ, in the r. field monogram (XP or TR). Hendin no. 1169; Lykke 237 fig. 35; Meshorer, Treasury 221 no. 44.

Very fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 79.

Lykke 67-71 does not accept the commonly heard identification of this helmet which is adorned with a star with a pilos, the famous cap of the Dioscuri, also decorated with a star on its top. She rather thinks that we are shown Herod’s personal helmet and that Herod wanted to insert himself into the tradition of Alexander and the Hellenistic kings who presented themselves helmeted or had their helmets depicted on coins. This may be right, but we should also consider that this helmet may be King David’s famous helmet that could have the symbolic power to awaken ideas of a new Jewish Empire. Cf. D.J. Jacobson, Military Helmet or Dioscuri Motif on Herod the Great's Largest Coin?, INR 2, 2007, 93-101.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-8 Prutot, year 3 = 40 BCE, Samaria; 4,45 g.

Helmet with cheek pieces, star on the top and two strips (of a diadem) hanging down in frontal view, flanked by palm fronds//HPΩΔΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ around tripod with vessel (lebes), in the l. field L Γ, in the r. field monogram (XP or TR). Hendin no. 1169; Lykke 237 fig. 35; Meshorer, Treasury 221 no. 44.

Very fine Overbeck – Meshorer no. 80.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-8 Prutot, year 3 = 40 BCE, Samaria; 9,66 g.

Helmet with cheek pieces, star on the top and two strips (of a diadem) hanging down in frontal view, flanked by palm fronds//HPΩΔΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ around tripod with vessel (lebes), in the l. field L Γ, in the r. field monogram (XP or TR). Hendin no. 1169; Lykke 237 fig. 35; Meshorer, Treasury 221 no. 44.

Broad flan, double struck, very fine Overbeck – Meshorer no. 81.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-4 Prutot, year 3 = 40 BCE, Samaria; 4,36 g.

Macedonian shield//HPΩΔΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ around helmet with cheek protection and plume; in the l. field L Γ, in the r. field monogram (XP or TR). Hendin no. 1170; Lykke 237 fig. 36; Meshorer, Treasury 221 no. 45.

Slightly corroded, good fine

Overbeck – Meshorer no. 82.

For the Macedonian shield cf. K. Liampi, Der makedonische Schild, Bonn 1998.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-4 Prutot, year 3 = 40 BCE, Samaria; 4,14 g.

Macedonian shield//HPΩΔΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ around helmet with cheek protection and plume; in the l. field L Γ, in the r. field monogram (XP or TR). Hendin no. 1170; Lykke 237 fig. 36; Meshorer, Treasury 221 no. 45.

Slightly corroded, good fine Overbeck – Meshorer no. 83.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-Double Prutah, year 3 = 40 BCE, Samaria; 2,9 g.

Poppy head (or pomegranate?)//HPΩΔΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ around winged caduceus. Hendin no. 1171; Lykke 237 fig. 37; Meshorer, Treasury 221 no. 46.

Nearly very fine

Overbeck - Meshorer no. 84.

Neither the identification of the plant alluded to on the obv. nor its exact meaning is clear. There is some reason to believe that the plant, whether it is identified as a poppy capsule or a pomegranate, may have to do with a Samarian cult in honour of Demeter and Persephone; cf. the discussion of Lykke 60-63.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-Prutah, year 3 = 40 BCE, Samaria; 2,74 g.

A palm frond adorned with a ribbon//HPΩΔΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ around an aphlaston, in the l. field L Γ, in the r. field monogram (XP or TR). Hendin no. 1172; Lykke 237, fig. 38; Meshorer, Treasury 221 no. 47.

Very fine Overbeck – Meshorer no. 85.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-Prutah, 37-4 BCE, Jerusalem; 1,39 g.

Anchor within a wreath//BACIΛ?ΩC HPΩ in uneven lines. Hendin no. 1174; Lykke 239 fig. 45; Meshorer, Treasury 223 no. 61.

Very fine Overbeck – Meshorer no. 104.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-Prutah, 37-4 BCE, Jerusalem; 1,14 g.

Anchor within a wreath//BACIΛ?ΩC HPΩ in uneven lines. Hendin no. 1174; Lykke 239 fig. 45; Meshorer, Treasury 223 no. 61.

Nearly very fine Overbeck – Meshorer no. 105.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-Double Prutah, 37-4 BCE, Jerusalem; 3,33 g.

Tripod table with flat bowl on it, flanked by palm fronds//HPΩΔΟΥ ΒΑCΙΛΕΩC around a closed diadem, within X. Hendin no. 1178; Lykke 238 fig. 39; Meshorer, Treasury 221 no. 48.

Very fine Overbeck – Meshorer no. 87.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-Double Prutah, 37-4 BCE, Jerusalem; 3,41 g.

Tripod table with flat bowl on it, flanked by palm fronds//HPΩΔΟΥ ΒΑCΙΛΕΩC around an open diadem, within X. Hendin no. 1178a; Lykke 238 fig. 39; Meshorer, Treasury 221 no. 49.

Very fine Overbeck – Meshorer no. 86.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-Prutah, 37-4 BCE, Jerusalem; 1,68 g.

Tripod table//HPΩΔΟΥ ΒΑCΙΛΕΩC around an open diadem, within X. Hendin no. 1179; Meshorer, Treasury 222 no. 50

Very fine Overbeck – Meshorer no. 88.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-Prutah, 37-4 BCE, Jerusalem; 1,1 g.

Tripod table//HPΩΔΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ around an open diadem, below, X. Hendin no. 1181; Meshorer, Treasury 222 no. 52.

Obv. struck off-centre, good fine Overbeck – Meshorer no. 89.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-Prutah, 37-4 BCE, Jerusalem; 2,01 g.

Tripod table//HPWΔΟV BACIΛΕWC around a small, closed diadem. Hendin 1183; Meshorer, Treasury 222, no. 53 a.

Good fine

Overbeck - Meshorer no. 90.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-Prutah, 37-4 BCE, Jerusalem; 1,1 g.

Tripod table//BACIΛ/ΕΥC HP/(...). Hendin no. 1184; Meshorer, Treasury 222 no. 54a.

Very good

Overbeck -Meshorer no. 102.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-Halfprutah, 37-4 BCE, Jerusalem; 0,84 g.

Two crossed palm fronds//HPΩΔΟΥ ΒΑCΙΛΕΩC around a tripod with flat bowl on it. Hendin no. 1185; Lykke 238 fig. 42; Meshorer, Treasury 222 no. 55.

Nearly very fine Overbeck – Meshorer no. 93.

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-Halfprutah, 37-4 BCE, Jerusalem; 0,67 g.

Two crossed palm fronds//HPΩΔΟΥ ΒΑCΙΛΕΩC around a tripod with flat bowl on it. Hendin no. 1185; Lykke 238 fig. 42; Meshorer, Treasury 222 no. 55.

Nearly very fine Overbeck – Meshorer no. 94

Herod the Great, 40/37-4 BCE, Æ-Prutah, 37-4 BCE, Jerusalem; 0,65 g.

Palm branch//ΗΡΩΔΟΥ ΒΑCΙΛΕΩC around tripod table. Hendin no. 1186; Meshorer, Treasury 222 no. 56.

Very good/fine

Overbeck - Meshorer no. 95.