Biblical & Jewish Coins

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Lot 3479    Session 12 (11.30am Thursday)    Biblical & Jewish Coins

Estimate $200
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $240

PALESTINE, Judaea, Hasmonean king Mattathias Antigonus, (40-37 B.C.), AE 24, copper multiple (eight) prutah, (13.170 grams), obv. double cornucopiae, inscription in Hebrew, 'Mattatayah the high priest and council of the Jews', rev. wreath with inscription around BA[CI**LEW*C] ANTI**GONOU*, (S.6105, H.481 (36), AJC II U10, Meshorer 30), Off centred obverse, cleaned, very fine and rare in this condition.

The two parts of the mould slipped, leaving a void on one edge of the coin and a pronunced ridge on the other. 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.

Estimate / sale price does not include buyer's premium (currently 22% including GST) which is added to hammer price. All bids are executed on the understanding that the Terms & Conditions of sale have been read and accepted. For information on grading and estimates please refer to the Buying at Auction advice.

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Adjacent lots

  • Lot 3477  

    SAMARIA, Satrap issue, (375-345 B.C.), silver obol, (0.484 grams), obv. head of female (Arethusa) facing, ...

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  • Lot 3478  

    SAMARIA, Satrap issue, (375-345 B.C.), silver obol, (0.572 grams), obv. female head (Arethusa?), facing, border ...

    Estimate $200

  • Lot 3479   This lot

    PALESTINE, Judaea, Hasmonean king Mattathias Antigonus, (40-37 B.C.), AE 24, copper multiple (eight) prutah, (13.170 ...

    Estimate $200

  • Lot 3480  

    PALESTINE, Judaea, King Herod I (The great), (37 - 4 B.C.), issue of year 3 ...

    Estimate $120

  • Lot 3481  

    PALESTINE, Judaea, Herod Archelaus I, (4 B.C. - A.D. 6), copper prutah, AE 15, (1.646 ...

    Estimate $120