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The Famous Menorah AE Prutah of Mattathias Antigonos, 40-37
BCE
29
Judaea, Hasmonean Kingdom. Mattathias Antigonos (Mattatayah). Æ Prutah (1.60 g), 40-37 BCE.
Jerusalem. Trace of ‘Mattatayah the High Priest’ (Paleo-Hebrew), showbread table. Rev. [
BA
]
SILE
[
WS
ANTIGONOU
], seven-branched menorah. (TJC 42; Hendin 1168). A great rarity and the only ancient
Jewish coin depicting the menorah. Very fine.
$ 25,000
Purchased privately from D. Hendin at the NYINC, December 1988.
Perhaps the most desirable of all of Mattathias Antigonus’ coins are his prutot depicting a table and a seven-branched menorah.
These are generally agreed to represent elements of the furnishings of the Jerusalem Temple. A similar menorah is shown being car-
ried off by Roman troops on the Arch of Titus in Rome and the table is generally thought to be the show-bread table. These explicit
religious types appear at this time as Mattathias attempted to defend his failing regime against the Idumaean Herod and his Roman
supporters, both of whom threatened Jewish religious custom.
THE JEWISH WAR - 66-70 CE
Phenomenal Quality Year One Silver Shekel, 66-70 CE
30
Judaea, The Jewish War. Silver Shekel (13.83 g), 66-70 CE. Jerusalem, year 1 (66/7 CE). ‘Shekel of Israel’
(Paleo-Hebrew), ritual chalice with wide, smooth rim, pellet on either side, and flat base with pearled ends;
above, ‘[year] 1’. Rev. ‘Jerusalem [the] holy’ (Paleo-Hebrew), staff with three pomegranate buds, round
base. (TJC 187; Hendin 1354). Virtually as struck. Superb. Nearly mint state.
$ 8,000
Purchased privately from Superior, May 1989.