Judaea

j u d a e a

Judaea was part of the Persian Empire until Alexander the Great subjugated it in 332 BC. After Alexander's death, the Jews came under the rule of the Ptolomies of Egypt and the Seleucids in 198 BC. Before the end of the 2nd century the Hasmoneans had won full autonomy from their former Greek rulers. In 63 BC Pompey incorporated Palestine into the Roman Empire and in 6 AD it had become a Roman province.

r e f e r e n c e s

Persian - Seleucid Periods

Persian Period

Macedonian Period

Ptolemaic Period

Seleucid Period

Hasmonean Princes

John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan) (134 - 104 BC)

50K JPG
John Hyrcanus I (134 - 104 BC)
AE Prutah
Hendin 455 (?)
14 mm.
2.32 gm.
Die position=1h
reverse
Obverse: Hebrew inscription surrounded by wreath.
Reverse: Double cornucopia; pomegranate between.

Judah Aristobulus I (Yehudah) (104 - 103 BC)

Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan) (103 - 76 BC)

9K JPG
Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan) (103 - 76 BC)
AE Prutah
Hendin 469, SGCv2 6087
13 mm.
1.14 gm.
Die position=n/a
reverse
Obverse: Anchor within circle. BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔΡOY
Reverse: Wheel with eight ray-like spokes; Hebrew letters between rays.

[Jannaeus] 7K JPG
Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan) (103 - 76 BC)
AE Lepton
Hendin 471, SGCv2 6092
14 mm.
1.28 gm.
Die position=n/a
reverse
Obverse: Anchor within circle. BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔΡOY
Reverse: Wheel with eight ray-like spokes; Aramaic inscription.

[Jannaeus] 11K JPG
Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan) (103 - 76 BC)
AE Prutah
Hendin 473, SGCv2 6089
15 mm.
2.57 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Hebrew inscription surrounded by wreath.
Reverse: Double cornucopia adorned with ribbons, pomegranate between horns.

John Hyrcanus II (Yonatan) (67 and 63 - 40 BC)

Mattathias Antigonus (Mattatayah) (40 - 37 BC)

Herodian Kings

Herod I (the Great) (40 - 4 BC)

Herod Archelaus (4 BC - 6 AD)

12K JPG
Herod Archelaus (4 BC - 6 AD)
AE Prutah
Hendin 505, SGIC 5539
16 mm.
2.43 gm.
Die position=6h
reverse
Obverse: Bunch of grapes on vine; leaves on left. Greek legend.
Reverse: Tall, plumed helmet with cheek straps; caduceus below. Greek legend.

Herod Antipas (4 BC - 40 AD)

Herod Philip (4 BC - 34 AD)

Herod Agrippa I (37 - 44 AD)

11K JPG
Herod Agrippa I (37 - 44 AD)
AE Prutah
41/42 AD
Hendin 553, SGIC 5567
17 mm.
3.01 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Canopy with fringe; ΑΓΡΙΠΑ BACIΛEWC
Reverse: Three ears of barley, growing between two leaves; date: L ς (year 6)

50K JPG
Herod Agrippa I (37 - 44 AD)
AE Prutah
41/42 AD
Hendin 553
17 mm.
2.22 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Canopy with fringe; ΑΓΡΙΠΑ BACIΛEWC
Reverse: Three ears of barley, growing between two leaves; date: L ς (year 6)

Herod of Chalcis (41 - 48 AD)

Aristobulus of Chalcis (57 - 92 AD)

Agrippa II (56 - 95 AD)

Roman Procurators Under Augustus

Coponius (6 - 9 AD)

[Coponius] 10K JPG
Coponius (6 - 9 AD)
AE Prutah
6 AD
Hendin 635, SGIC 5606
17 mm.
1.91 gm.
Die position=12h
Procurator under Augustus
reverse
Obverse: Ear of barley; KAICAPOC.
Reverse: Eight-branched palm tree bearing two bunches of dates; date in field L Λς (year 36).

Marcus Ambibulus (9 - 12 AD)

[Ambibulus] 14K JPG
Marcus Ambibulus (9 - 12 AD)
AE Prutah
9 AD
Hendin 636, SGIC 5607
17 mm.
1.86 gm.
Die position=12h
Procurator under Augustus
obverse
Obverse: Ear of barley; KAICAPOC.
Reverse: Eight-branched palm tree bearing two bunches of dates; date in field L ΛΘ (year 39).

Annius Rufus (12 - 15 AD)
[Issued no coins.]

Roman Procurators Under Tiberius

Valerius Gratus (15 - 26 AD)

[Gratus] 9K JPG
Valerius Gratus (15 - 26 AD)
AE Prutah
18 AD
Hendin 646, SGIC 5620
15 mm.
2.14 gm.
Die position=3h
Procurator under Tiberius
obverse
Obverse: TIB KAI CAP (Tiberius Caesar) in wreath tied with an X at bottom.
Reverse: Palm branch flanked by IOYΛIA, and date L E (year 5).

Pontius Pilatus (26 - 36 AD)

[Ambibulus] 14K JPG
Pontius Pilatus (26 - 36 AD)
AE Prutah
29 AD
Hendin 648, SGIC 5622
14 mm.
1.95 gm.
Die position=12h
Procurator under Tiberius
obverse
Obverse: Three bound ears of barley; IOYΛIA KAICAPOC.
Reverse: Libation ladle (simpulum) surrounded by TIBEPIOY KAICAPOC; date in field: LIς (year 16).

50K JPG
Pontius Pilatus (26 - 36 AD)
AE Prutah
31 AD
Hendin 650
16 x 15 mm.
2.19 gm.
Die position=12h
Procurator under Tiberius
Obverse: Littus surrounded by TIBEPIOY KAICAPOC.
Reverse: Date within wreath: LIH (year 18).

Roman Procurators Under Caligula

Marullus (37 - 41 AD)
[Issued no coins.]

Roman Procurators Under Claudius

Tiberius Alexander (46 - 48 AD)
[Issued no coins.]

Ventidius Cumanus (48 - 54 AD)
[Issued no coins.]

Antonius Felix (52 - 54 AD)

[Felix] 9K JPG
Antonius Felix (52 - 60 AD)
AE Prutah
54 AD
Hendin 652, SGIC 5626
16 mm.
1.89 gm.
Die position=6h
Procurator under Claudius
reverse
Obverse: Two shields and two spears crossed. NEPW KΛAV KAICAP (Nero Claudius Caesar).
Reverse: Six-branched palm tree bearing two bunches of dates; above, BPIT (Brittanicus, son of Claudius). Date in field LIΔ/KAI (year 14).

Roman Procurators Under Nero

Antonius Felix (continued under Nero 54 - 59 AD)

Porcius Festus (59 - 62 AD)

50K JPG
Porcius Festus (59 - 62 AD)
AE Prutah
58 AD
Hendin 653
16 x 17 mm.
1.67 gm.
Die position=12h
Procurator under Nero
Obverse: Palm branch surrounded by date LE (year 5) and KAIC APOC.
Reverse: Legend NEP WNO C (Nero) within wreath tied with X at bottom.

50K JPG
Porcius Festus (59 - 62 AD)
AE Prutah
58 AD
Hendin 653
15 x 16 mm.
1.55 gm.
Die position=11h
Procurator under Nero
Obverse: Palm branch surrounded by date LE (year 5) and KAIC APOC.
Reverse: Legend NEP WNO C (Nero) within wreath tied with X at bottom.

[Festus] 9K JPG
Porcius Festus (59 - 62 AD)
AE Prutah
58 AD
Hendin 653, SGIC 5627
17 mm.
2.29 gm.
Die position=12h
Procurator under Nero
reverse
Obverse: Palm branch surrounded by date LE (year 5) and KAIC APOC.
Reverse: Legend NEP WNO C (Nero) within wreath tied with X at bottom.

Albinus (62 - 64 AD)
[Issued no coins.]

Gessius Florus (64 - 66 AD)
[Issued no coins.]

The Jewish War

[year 3] 15K JPG
Anonymous (year 3)
AE Prutah
68/69 AD
Hendin 664, SGIC 5640
17 mm.
2.90 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Amphora with broad rim, two handles and decorated lid. Hebrew legend.
Reverse: Vine leaf on small branch. Hebrew legend.

The Bar Kochba Revolt

[year 3] 18K JPG
Anonymous (year 3)
AE 21/Small Bronze
134 AD
Hendin 738, SGIC 5690
21 x 20 mm.
4.76 gm.
Die position=6h
reverse
Obverse: Seven branched palm tree; Hebrew legend: 'Jerusalem'.
Reverse: Bunch of grapes and small leaf; Hebrew legend: 'For the freedom of Jerusalem'.

b a c k  t o  a n c i e n t  c o i n s