Lot 2014

Description

Palestine, Galilee and Perea, King Herod Antipas, (4 B.C. - A.D. 40), issue of year 34 = A.D. 30-31, AE 24, 13.88 grams, copper full denomination, obv. reed upright legend around, date A **D*, rev. TIBE/PIAC within wreath, (Hendin 64 [$850 US], Meshorer Vol.2, Pl.6, No.9, S.5548). Poorly struck as usual, of similar quality to most known specimens, some surface pitting on the obverse, otherwise very good/fine and extremely rare.

Ex Abramowitz Collection (USA) (lot 450 part) and Noble Numismatics Sale 46 (lot 2220). $$ This infamous king was responsible for the execution of John the Baptist, and it was to Antipas that Pontius Pilate sent Jesus Christ when he learned he was a Galilean. The coins of this ruler are all very rare. The issue of the full denomination of this year is noted by Hendin but the date was not in the Bromberg collection (the finest Jewish collection ever sold, see a copy of this catalogue in the sale in Numismatic Literature section). This coin was issued in the year attributed to Jesus Christ's crucification. Of immense biblical importance.