Lot 4684

Description

Palestine, Judaea, Hasmonean king Mattathias Antigonus, (40-37 B.C.), AE 19, copper multiple (four) prutah, (8.27 g), obv. single cornucopiae, inscription, "Mattatayah the high priest", rev. wreath with partial inscription within **[BASILEOS ANTIGONOU]*, (S.6105, H.482 (35), AJC I V var. pl.54, Meshorer 31). Off centred on the reverse, otherwise very fine and rare in this condition.

The use by Antigonus of the priestly title in Hebrew on the obverse of this coin is significant. His enemy, Herod, could not adopt this title, and could only employ the international language, Greek, in the inscription (Money) of King Herod. The propaganda value of such weighty coins could well have been a significant raison d'etre for Antigonus striking them. In comparison, the coinage of Herod was thinner. It is possible that a shrewd Herod struck lighter coins of a larger diameter to fool the public.