Lot 4804

Description

Palestine, Judaea, Herod I, (40 - 4 B.C.), copper prutah, AE 12, (0.91 grams), obv. inscription in concentric circles, trace of BACI HPW**D*, rev. anchor with caduceus between, (S.5533, AJC 17, [p.237], H.499, Meshorer 51); another copper lepton, AE 13, (1.18 grams), obv. cornucopia with inscription above and below trace of BACI*L*I HPW**D*, rev. eagle to right closed wings, dotted border, (S.5535, AJC 23, [p.238], H.501, Meshorer 54). Both weak in places, one with some green patination, very good - fine, scarce. (2)

The second coin is the first coin issued by a Jewish ruler with a graven image upon it for use by Jews. The eagle is said to represent the golden bird King Herod placed above the entrance to the Jerusalem Temple.