Lot 1960

Description

Palestine, Judaea, Hasmonean king Mattathias Antigonus, (40-37 B.C.), AE 23, copper multiple (eight) prutah, (14.65 grams), obv. double cornucopiae, partial inscription, 'Mattatayah the high priest and council of the Jews', rev. wreath with inscription around **BASILEO[S ANTIGONOU]*, (S.6105, H.481 (36) [$350]), Off centred on the reverse, otherwise good fine and rare.

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, utilizing only the international language, Greek, in the inscription (Money) of King Herod. The propaganda value of such weighty coins could well have been a chief raison d'etre for their issuance by Antigonus. 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.