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Estimate $200
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $190
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.
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Adjacent lots
Lot 1958
PALESTINE, Judaea, John Hyrcanus I and Alexander Jannaeus, (134-76 B.C.), copper prutahs, mostly obv. legend ...
Estimate $50
Lot 1959
PALESTINE, Judaea, copper prutahs, John Hyrcanus I, Alexander Jannaeus, Herod the Great, Herod Archelaus, Agrippa ...
Estimate $70
Lot 1960 This lot
PALESTINE, Judaea, Hasmonean king Mattathias Antigonus, (40-37 B.C.), AE 23, copper multiple (eight) prutah, (14.65 ...
Estimate $200
Lot 1961
PALESTINE, Judaea, Mattathias Antigonus, (40-37 B.C.), copper multiple (four) prutah, (6.72 grams), obv. ivy wreath ...
Estimate $200
Lot 1962
PALESTINE, Judaea, Mattathias Antigonus, (40-37 B.C.), copper multiple (four) prutah, (7.2 grams), obv. ivy wreath ...
Estimate $120