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Judaea, Yehud (Judah). Hezekiah. Silver 1/2 Ma’ah Obol (0.30 g), ca. 333/2-302/1 BCE. Head of chimaera
right, degraded to the shaped of an egg or pellet. Rev. ‘YHWDH (Yehud), duck standing right, head turned
to look back. (TJC 27; Hendin 1075c). Toned. Very fine.
$ 1,500
Purchased privately from H. Kriendler, June 1988.
HASMONEAN DYNASTY
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Judaea, Hasmonean Kingdom. John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan). Æ Prutah (1.49 g), 134-104 BCE. Jerusalem.
‘Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews’ (Paleo-Hebrew) in four lines within wreath; above
inscription, Greek letter A. Rev. Double cornucopiae adorned with ribbons, pomegranate between horns,
within circular beaded border. (TJG grp. A; Hendin 1132). Well centered with an attractive sandy-brown
desert patina. Extremely fine.
$ 150
Purchased privately at the NYINC, December 1991.
This prutah features the distinctive types - a Paleo-Hebrew legend enclosed within a wreath on the obverse, and a double cornuco-
piae with poppy on the reverse - that would be associated with the Hasmonean dynasty from the time of John Hyrcanus I until the
disastrous reign of Mattathias II Antigonus (40-37 BCE). It was even resurrected by Herod the Great as means of establishing his
connection to the Hasmonean house and giving himself an air of legitimacy as its successor.
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Judaea, Hasmonean Kingdom. John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan). Æ 1/2 Prutah (0.63 g), 134-104 BCE.
Jerusalem. ‘Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews’ (Paleo-Hebrew) in two lines above
and below palm branch. Rev. Lily between two grain ears, within circular beaded border. Cf. (TJC
grp. C (all with monogram to left of lily); Hendin 1134a). Nice reddish-brown patina. Extremely fine.
$ 750
Purchased privately at the NYINC, December 1990.
It is unclear whether the palmbranch on this and the following coin should be interpreted as a Jewish ritual object or as an emblemcele-
brating one ormore of JohnHyrcanus’many victories over the Seleukids and other neighboring peoples whowere opposed to increasing
Hasmoneanpowerintheregion.ThelilyonthereverseservesastheemblemofJerusalemandperhapsacipherforJohnHyrcanusIhimself.
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