Lot 2233

Description

Palestine, Judaea, Alexander Jannaeus, (103-76 B.C.), AE 10, copper lepton or half prutat, (0.73 grams), obv. upright palm branch surounded by Paleo-Hebrew inscription [Yehonatan the King], border of dots, rev. lily, (cf.S.6087-6092, H.468 [8], Meshorer 6, AJC Series B [pl.4]). Off centred on the reverse, however a complete legend on the obverse, very fine/fine and very rare.

The second rarest coin in the entire Hasmonaean series and is rarely seen, (the Menorah/Showbread table prutah of Mattathias Antigonus, with an example in this sale). Both the Hendon illustrated line drawing and AJC illustration B3 have the lily off centred in the same way as this example. The lily used is based on its ornamentary use of this symbol in the Temple of Jerusalem and consequently is associated with the temple. It effectively was the national symbol. No specimens were present in the two parts of the Bromberg sale (Dec. 1991 and Dec. 1992) and the Abbramowitz Family Collection December 8, 1993 (lot 11 realised US$ XXXXX).