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245
Philistia, Gaza. Silver Drachm (4.06 g), mid 5th century-333 BC. Imitating Athens. Helmeted head of
Athena right, profile eye; ‘N’ on cheek. Rev. A
Q
E, owl standing right, head facing; in upper left field, olive
spray and crescent; in right field, ‘M’. Gitler & Tal V.24Da; HGC 10, 541. Lightly toned. Very Fine. $600
From the Dr. Patrick Tan Collection.
246
Philistia, Gaza. Silver Drachm (2.99 g), mid 5th century-333 BC. Archaic style female head right. Rev.
Head of Bes facing. Gitler & Tal V.14Da; HGC 10, 552. Test cut. About Very Fine.
$500
From the Dr. Patrick Tan Collection.
247
Judaea, Hasmonean Kingdom. Mattathias Antigonos (Mattatayah). Æ 8 Prutot (13.34 g), 40-37 BCE. Je-
rusalem. ‘Mattatayah the High Priest and Council of the Jews’ (Paleo-Hebrew), double cornucopiae. Rev.
BA
C
ILEW
[C
ANTIGONOU
], ivy wreath tied with ribbons. Hendin 1162; TJC 36. Earthen dark-green
patina. Nearly Extremely Fine.
$500
From the Dr. Patrick Tan Collection.
In 40 BCE, at the head of a Parthian army, Mattathias II Antigonus drove Herod the Great and his puppet, the Has-
monaean ethnarch, John Hyrcanus II, out of Jerusalem and was proclaimed king and High Priest by the Parthians
and his Jewish supporters. Unfortunately, the wily Herod was not so easily defeated and returned in 39 BCE armed
with recognition as the Roman client-king of Judaea. The hapless Mattathias II was ultimately defeated and cruci-
fied for his troubles, leaving Judaea to begin a new period in its troubled history under the often hated Herodian dynasty.