Ancient Coin Stories

Let coins tell their stories…

Judaea. Jerusalem. John Hyrcanus I
135-104 BCE
Prutah Æ 15 mm, 2,27 g
Ex Tareq Hani collection
Ex Savoca

The Hasmonean kings have long been collected simply for the geographical area they controlled. They were also Jewish kings, though among them were some of the cruelest kings in history. Hyrcanus was the first to achieve some independence from the Seleukids.

Judaea. Jerusalem. Hasmoneans. Alexander Jannaios (Yehonatan)
103-76 BCE
Prutah Æ 15 mm, 0,80 g
Ex Tareq Hani collection
Ex Savoca

His son, Alexander Jannaios, was infamous for dining while two thousand rebels and their children were crucified.

Judaea. Jerusalem. Mattathias Antigonos (Mattatayah)
40-37 BCE
Eight Prutot Æ 25 mm, 17,06 g
Ex Tareq Hani collection
Ex Savoca
Alexander Jannaeus
103 – 76 BCE
Judaea, Hasmonean Kingdom : Jerusalem mint
Ae Prutah 12.5mm, 1.7gms
Obv: Aramaic legend within rays of eight-rayed star
Rev: BASILEWS ALEXANDPOY around inverted anchor within circle
Hendin 1152 var

Mattathias Antigonos was the last Hasmonean king. He was executed by the Romans under a request from Herod I.

Judaea. Jerusalem or Samarian mint. Herodians. Herod I (the Great)
Dated RY 3 (37 BCE)
2 Prutot Æ 16mm, 2,95 g
Poppy on stalk /
ΗΡΩΔΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, winged caduceus flanked by LΓ (date) and monogram.
Hendin 6206; TJC 46; RPC I 4903

Herod the Great is of course infamous for his palace that may be visited at Masada and other large building projects.

Judaea. Jerusalem. Herodians. Herod II Archelaos
4 BCE-6 CE
Prutah Æ 17 mm, 2,29 g
Ex Tareq Hani collection
Ex Savoca

Herod II was the son of Herod the Great.

167 BCE

During the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleukids, tensions increase between the Jewish population and Idumeans, who are caught between the Seleukids and the Hasmoneans.

125 BCE

John Hyrcanus I, the Hasmonean ruler of Judea, conquers Idumea and forcibly converts the Idumeans to Judaism. Idumea is formally integrated into the Hasmonean kingdom.

96 BCE

Alexander Jannaios besieges Gaza for a year, then kills all the inhabitants and destroys it.

90 BCE

Straton’s Tower (later named Caesaria Maritima) is captured by the Judean king Alexander Jannaios.

37 BCE

Herod the Great, of Idumean descent, is installed as king of Judea by the Romans. His rule brings stability and extensive building projects in the region, including in Idumea.

30 BCE

Straton’s Tower is given to Herod I, who renamed it to Caesarea Maritima in honor of Augustus.

30 BCE

Gaza is given to Herod I by Augustus.

22 BCE

Herod I begins construction of the harbor at Caesarea Maritima.

14 BCE

Herod I of Judea funds a stoa on Chios.

4 BCE

Herod the Great dies, and his kingdom is divided among his sons. Idumea becomes part of the Tetrarchy of Judea, under the control of Herod’s son Archelaus. Gaza becomes part of Syria.

6 CE

Judea, including Edom, becomes a Roman province. Caesarea Maritima replaces Jerusalem as the capital.