Lot 4795

Description

Palestine, Judaea, King Herod I (The Great), (37 - 4 B.C.), issue of year 3 = 37 B.C., copper eight prutah, AE 25, (9.01 grams), obv. tripod with ceremonial bowl, around **BASILEWS HPWDOU*, date L **G* to left TP monogram to right, rev. helmet flanked with palm branches and star, (S.5523, H.486 [$400 US, [39], AJC II, No.1 [p.235], Meshorer 37). Soil patination, otherwise nearly very fine and rare.

The helmet on the reverse has been the subject of much comment. Initially called by Madden in 1864 a vessel, others like Kindler in 1974 refer to it as a thymaterion (an incense burner). Meshorer and Hendin in more recent times called it a helmet. Its confirmation as a helmet was shown by Hendin in the Israel Numismatic Journal Vol.11 1990-1 in which a superb specimen clearly showed a wreathed helmet with a large leaf as a central device. Thus the object is a soldier's helmet with a wreath, cheek pieces and straps. Leaves on helmets were a suitable symbol and design motif at this time as Herod I did not depict human images on any of his coins.