Virginia Wayland

Judean coins (Nov. 2007)

[chronological order: Hyrcanus (08), Jannaeus (00, 09, 14), Herod (01, 07, 15), Tiberius/Pilate (02, 10), Agrippa (04, 13), Nero/Felix/Festus (03, 06, 12), First Revolt (05,), Second Revolt (11)]

0. LOT OF 50 JANNAEUS LEPTONS AND PRUTAH COINS  

 

11/17/07 $73  7 bids

11/18/07 $78  8 bids

11/21/07 $202.51  13 bids (ended) 

1.  Herod the Great AE Prutah.  14 mm; 2.21 g -- now in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

 

 

start $1.50  2 bids;11/17/07 $16.50  5 bids;11/18/07 $22.50  6 bids

11/21/07 $103.51  12 bids (ended)

Herod the Great issued coins [40] 37-4 B.C.E. in five denominations:  Chalkous, Hemichalkous, Dilepton or Prutah, Lepton, and Hemilepton.  Some coins were dated LΓ P indicating the third year of his rule either as Procurator or as King.  None of the coins listed by Maltiel-Gerstenfeld seem consistent with this one, either with respect to size or to the figures shown.

 

2.  Pontius Pilate AE Prutah. 15 mm; 2.06 g  [see also #10 below] -- now in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

 

 

$1.81  2 bids; 11/17/07  $3.25  3 bids; 11/18/07 $3.25  3 bids

11/21/07 $10.50  5 bids (ended)

Dileptons (Prutahs) were issued with dates "Year 17" (30/31 C.E.) or "Year 18" (31/32 C.E.).  Obverse:  Lituus; border of dots.  Legend around from left below: TIBEPIOU KAICAPOC.  Reverse:  Wreath tied at the bottom;  border of dots within which date.  Reported in Maltiel-Gerstenfeld 241(220): 14.3 – 16 mm; 1.89 – 2.37 g, or 245 (222): 14.1 – 15.5 mm; 2.03 – 2.35 g.  Either date is consistent with this coin.

 

3.  Antonius Felix AE Prutah.  17 mm; 2.96 g 

 

 

11/17/07 $1.00  1 bid;11/18/07 $1.00  1 bids

11/21/07 $15.50  5 bids (ended)

 

Maltiel-Gerstenfeld 246 (223)?  16 – 17 mm; 2.62 g. Dilepton or Prutah.  Obeverse:  Two elongated shields and two crossed spears; border of dots.  Legend around from left below:  ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑΥ ΚΑΙCΑΡ.  Reverse:  Palm tree with seven branches and two bunches of dates:  border of dots.  Legend above:  BPIT KAI.  Date in field on both sides of the tree in two lines:  "Year 14" (54 C.E.) L ΙΔ Κ ΑΙ.  The diameter is roughly consistent with our coin, but the coin shown is somewhat heavier.  The palm tree design shown at left is consistent with the description, but the date might be better read as L I  K N ("Year 10")?    


4.  Agrippa I AE Prutah.  17 mm; 2.98 g. 

 

 

$5.40  2 bids; 11/17/07  $5.90  3 bids; 11/18/07 $5.90  3 bids

11/21/07 $31.00  12 bids (ended)

Listed in Maltiel-Gerstenfeld 144 (129) as a Quadrans?  Obverse:  Canopy; border of dots. Legend reads ΒΑCΙΛΕWC ΑΓΡΙΠΑ.  Reverse:  Three ears of barley issuing from between leaves;  border of dots.  No legend.  Date in field L S "Year 6" (42-43 C.E.).  The size, 16.5 – 18 mm; 2.17 -3.07 g, is appropriate. (See also No. 13 below.)

 

5.  Jewish War AE Prutah.  16 mm; 2.39 g. 

 

 

11/17/07  $6.50  3 bids;11/18/07  $6.50  3 bids

11/21/07 $19.00  12 bids (ended)

Listed in Maltiel-Gerstenfeld 253 (230)  AE, 15.5 – 21 mm; 2.28 -3.60 g. Perutah.  Obverse:  Amphora with hammered belly, wide rim and two handles;  border of dots.  Legend around from left:  "year 2" (67/68 C.E.)  Reverse:  Vine branch with leaf and tendril;  border of dots.  Legend around from left:  "The freedom of Zion".


6.  No ID.  17 mm; 2.58 g. 

 

 

11/17/07 $3.25  2 bids; 11/18/07 $3.25  2 bids

11/21/07 $11.50  4 bids (ended)

This coin matches that listed in Maltiel-Gerstenfeld 247 (224) issued under the procurator Porcius Festus (58 – 60 C.E.) in the reign of Nero.  AE, 14 – 16.6 mm; 2.09 – 2.65 g.  Dilepton or Prutah.  Obverse:  Wreath tied at bottom, within which legend in three lines:  NEP/WNO/C.  Reverse:  Palm branch;  border of dots.  Legend around from left below:  "Year 5 Ceasar" (58/59 C.E.) LE KAICAPOC.

 

7.  Herod the Great Prutah.  12 mm; 1.51 g.

 

 

11/17/07 $1.00 1 bids;11/18/07 $1.00 1 bids;

11/21/07 $15.50  6 bids (ended)

(See No. 15 below.  This coin is both smaller in diameter and heavier than the coins listed in Maltiel-Gerstenfeld.)

8.  No ID.  14 mm; 1.80 g. 

 

11/17/07 $6.50  3 bids; 11/18/07 $6.50  3 bids

11/21/07 $20.70 8 bids

Consistent with a coin issued in the time of Alexander Jannaeus (103 – 76 B.C.E.)  described by Maltiel-Gerstenfeld 41(37).  AE, 13 – 14.5 mm; 1.89 -3.01 g.  Dilepton or prutah.  Obverse:  Wreath tied at bottom.  Legend "Yenhonathan the High Priest and Hever of the Jews" in four or five lines.  Script:  Classic, broad classic, block, cursive and barbaric.  Reverse:  Double cornucopiae, pomegranate between horns;  border of dots.  A similar coin 39 (35) was issued by Yehohnan Hyrcanus with the inscription:  "Yehohanan the High Priest" in three or four lines.  Script:  Aramaic. [AE, 11.4 – 15 mm;  0.83 -1.89 g].  Another similar coin, 40 (36), was issued by Yehuda Aristobulus 1 (104 – 103 B.C.E) with the legend "Yehuda the High Priest and Hever of the Jews" in four or five lines.  Script:  Hanan or block. [AE, 13 – 15 mm;  2.09 – 2.25 g.  Dilepton or Prutah]

 

9.  Jannaeus AE Prutah.  16 mm;  2.52 g. 

 

 

$4.75  2 bids; 11/17/07 $7.50  3 bids; 11/18/07 $7.50  3 bids

11/21/07 $15.29  8 bids (ended)

Described by Maltiel-Gerstenfeld 50 (46)?  AE, 13 -16.4 mm; 2.61 – 2.55 g.  Dilepton or Prutah.  Obverse:  Star with eight rays within border of dots.  Legend:  "King Alexander, Year 25" (approx. 78 B.C.E.) in Aramaic.  Reverse:  Anchor within circle.  Legend around from right above in Greek. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ.  Date in field:  LKE (=25)

The coin shown has no visible legend on the obverse, and the star appears to be within a circle rather than a border of dots?


10.  Roman Judean 15 mm; minted by Pontius Pilate?  Seller (biblicalmites) claims at the time of the crucifixion. 

 

$75 minimum, no bids; 11/18/07 no bids

11/21/07 no bids (ended)

(See also No. 2 above)  Dileptons (Prutahs) were issued with dates "Year 17" (30/31 C.E.) or "Year 18" (31/32 C.E.).  Obverse:  Lituus; border of dots.  Legend around from left below: TIBEPIOU KAICAPOC.  Reverse:  Wreath tied at the bottom;  border of dots within which date.  Reported in Maltiel-Gerstenfeld 241(220): 14.3 – 16 mm; 1.89 – 2.37 g, or 245 (222): 14.1 – 15.5 mm; 2.03 – 2.35 g. 

11.  Judean coin.  Bar Kochba (rare) Bronze AE19.  19 mm.  (AU)

Archaeology Pty Ltd., Australia.  (Store, not auction)

 

 

$550 minimum (or "buy it now" price); 11/17/07 $495 no bids; 11/18/07 $490 no bids

11/21/07 $488.07  no bids

Reported in Maltiel-Gerstenfeld 345(309)  AE, 16.5 – 21 mm; 4.70 -5.13 g. Semis. Obverse:  Palm tree with seven branches; border of dots.  Legend across field in two lines:  "Jerusalem".  Reverse:  Bunch of grapes.  Border of dots. Legend around from right below:  Y(ear) two of the free(dom) of Is(ra)el."  The coin shown is missing the legend on the obverse.  The legend on the reverse is not clear.

12.  ANCIENT JUDEAN COIN .. PORCIUS FESTUS  UNDER NERO.. 59 - 61 A.D...    BRONZE PRUTAH..   15 MM..    See 6. above)  (lunacoins) (See also No. 6 above)

(begin bidding $3.50   11/17/07; 11/18/07 $3.50  0 bids

11/21/07 $15.51  7 bids (ended)

This coin may match that listed in Maltiel-Gerstenfeld 247 (224) issued under the procurator Porcius Festus (58 – 60 C.E.) in the reign of Nero.  AE, 14 – 16.6 mm; 2.09 – 2.65 g.  Dilepton or Prutah.  Obverse:  Wreath tied at bottom, within which legend in three lines:  NEP/WNO/C.  Reverse:  Palm branch;  border of dots.  Legend around from left below:  "Year 5 Ceasar" (58/59 C.E.) LE KAICAPOC.  The obverse may be mistamped.  Note the wedge shaped cut from the upper left of our coin and the flattened (cut?) edge.

13.  ANCIENT JUDEAN COIN. AGRIPPA I. 37 - 44 A.D.   BRONZE PRUTAH, 18 MM.(lunacoins)

begin bidding 11/17/07; 11/18/07 $2.75  1 bid;

11/21/07 $10.50  7 bids (ended)

Listed in Maltiel-Gerstenfeld 144 (129) as a Quadrans?  Obverse:  Canopy; border of dots. Legend reads ΒΑCΙΛΕWC ΑΓΡΙΠΑ.  Reverse:  Three ears of barley issuing from between leaves;  border of dots.  No legend.  Date in field L S "Year 6" (42-43 C.E.).  The size, 16.5 – 18 mm; 2.17 -3.07 g, is appropriate.  (See also No. 4 above)

14.  ANCIENT JUDEAN COIN.  WIDOW'S MITE.  BRONZE LEPTON 11x14 MM.  MINTED BY ALEXANDER JANNAEUS 103 -76 B.C.  (lunacoins)

 

begin bidding $3.50 11/17/07;11/18/07 $3.50  0 bids

11/21/07 $6.50  7 bids (ended)

Reported by Maltiel-Gerstenfeld 48(44)  AE, 11 – 13.1 mm; 1.22 g.  Lepton.  Obverse:  Star with eight rays, no legend.  Reverse:  Anchor within circle.  No legend.

15.  Herod I, 40 - 4 B.C.  Bronze Prutah. 15 mm. Obv. - Anchor Greek - "of King Herod"

Rev. - 2 cornucopias, caduceus between them...    (lunacoins)

 

11/18/07 $8.27  3 bids;

11/21/07 $20.50  10 bids (ended)

Ref.  BMC 224 – 6/40 -65; K 35;  AJC/17; R 33; M 53  The obverse is an anchor with a border of dots, and legend in Greek BACI HPW.  The reverse is a doble cornucopia; caduceus; above five pellets; border of dots.  This coin appears to be struck of center.  According to Maltiel-Gerstenfeld (No. 87 (77)), these range from 12 .5 – 16 mm; 1.03 -1.48 g.  (See No. 7 above)

 

Descriptions are taken from:

Maltiel-Gerstenfeld, Jacob  A New Catalogue of Ancient Jewish Coins (Tel-Aviv: Minerva, 1987)

 

Other sources:

Maltiel-Gerstenfeld, Jacob  260 Years of Ancient Jewish Coins: A Catalogue  (Tel Aviv:  Kol, 1982)

Meshorer, Ya'akov  A Treasury of Jewish Coins (Nyack, NY:  Amphora, 2001)

Meshorer, Ya'akov  The Coinage of Aelia Capitolina  (Israel Museum: Jerusalem:  Keter, 1989)