Alexander Jannaeus, 104-76 BCE
AE Prutah, [14×17 mm, 1.20 g], Jerusalem mint
Obv: Paleo-Hebrew (Yehonatan the King) between the eight fine lines of star within diadem
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ (of Alexander King); finely engraved inscription surrounding finely engraved anchor
References: Hendin6 #6190, Hendin5 #1151
The “Widow’s Mite” of the Bible [Mark 12 and Luke 21].
Alexander Jannaeus, 104-76 BCE
AE Prutah, (14 mm, 1.16 g), Jerusalem mint
Obv: Paleo-Hebrew (Priest the King) between the eight rays of star within diadem
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ (of Alexander King); surrounding inverted anchor
References: Hendin6# 6189, Hendin5 #1150
The “Widow’s Mite” of the Bible [Mark 12 and Luke 21]. These early types have a full prutah weight and large module size -compared to later prutah of significantly smaller size.
Alexander Jannaeus, 104-76 BCE (and later successors)
AE Prutah, (12.5×15 mm, 1.07 g), Jerusalem mint
Obv: Aramaic inscription around star with dotted border
Rev: Greek inscription around inverted anchor within circle
References: Hendin6 #6191 / 6195, Hendin5 #1152a
The “Widow’s Mite” of the Bible [Mark 12 and Luke 21].
Alexander Jannaeus, 104-76 BCE
AE Prutah, [14 mm, 1.08 g], Jerusalem mint
Obv: “King Alexander” in Aramaic around star of eight rays.
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΕ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ around inverted anchor within circle
Double Struck
References: Hendin6 #6191, Hendin5 #1152
The “Widow’s Mite” of the Bible [Mark 12 and Luke 21]. This example is double struck
Antioch, Syria, semi-autonomous during reign of Augustus 27BCE-14 CE
AE [ 19.5 mm, 6.77 g, 12 h ], year 43 (12-13 CE)
Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Reverse: ANTIOXΕΩΝ ΕΠΙ ΣΙΛΑΝΟΥ; Ram running right looking at star behind, date ΓΜ below.
References: Butcher 57, BMC Galatia 63, RPC I 4268
Possibly commemorating the celestial event or “Heavenly Alignment” considered to be the “Star of Bethlehem”
Antioch, Syria, semi-autonomous during reign of Augustus 27BCE-14 CE
AE [18.5 mm, 6.47 g, 12 h ], year 42 (11-12 CE)
Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Reverse: ANTIOXΕΩΝ ΕΠΙ ΣΙΛΑΝΟΥ; Ram running right looking at star behind, date BΜ below.
References: Butcher 56, BMC Galatia 62, RPC I 4266
Possibly commemorating the celestial event or “Heavenly Alignment” considered to be the “Star of Bethlehem”
Antioch, Syria, semi-autonomous during reign of Augustus 27BCE-14 CE
AE [ 19 mm, 7.17 g, 12 h ], year 43 (12-13 CE)
Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Reverse: ANTIOXΕΩΝ ΕΠΙ ΣΙΛΑΝΟΥ; Ram running right looking at star behind, date ΓΜ below.
References: Butcher 57, BMC Galatia 63, RPC I 4268
Possibly commemorating the celestial event or “Heavenly Alignment” considered to be the “Star of Bethlehem”
Aristobalus, King of Lesser Armenia, 57-92 CE
AE 24, [24 mm, 9.97 g]
Year: 66/67 CE, under Nero
Obv: ΒΑCIΛΕΩC APICTOBOYΛΟΥ ΕΤ IΓ (of King Aristobalus, year 13 of Nero); Diademed bust of Aristobalus facing left.
Rev: NEPΩ ΝΙ ΚΛΑΥ ΔΙΩ ΚΑΙCΑ ΡΙ CΕΒΑCΤΩ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΩ (for Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus): Text within a wreath
References: Hendin6 #6285, Hendin5 #1257
Rare, decent but pitted. Aristobulus was married to Salome (daughter of Herodias, niece of Herod Agrippa)
Herod Archelaus Judean Ethnarch, 4 BCE-6 CE
AE half Prutah [14.5 mm, 1.65 g]
Obv: HPW (Herod): prow of galley facing left, with dots around edge
Rev: EΘΝ (Ethnarch) within wreath, with dots around edge
References: Hendin6 #6228, Hendin5 #1197
Herod Archelaus was Herod the Great’s oldest son with Samaritan wife, Malthace; named ethnarch by Augustus after Herod’s death.
Herod Archelaus Judean Ethnarch, 4 BCE-6 CE
AE Prutah, [16 mm, 2.52 g]
Obv: ΕθΝΑΡΧΟΥ (of the Ethnarch): crested helmet with cheek straps, dots around edge
Rev: HPWΔΟΥ (of Herod): bunch of grapes on vine with small leaf on left, dots around edge
References: Hendin6 #6227, Hendin5 #1196
Herod Archelaus was Herod the Great’s oldest son with Samaritan wife, Malthace; named ethnarch by Augustus after Herod’s death.
