I found a great deal on a lot of 5 Herod the Great and Son coins I couldn't pass it up so here are more favorites (most recent). This increases my favorites entries to 13 counting the 8 Roman Governor era Judaeans that I posted on Friday. This is probably the last ancient coin purchase of 2016.
You go, Deacon! I admittedly am way behind the curve on Judaean coinage, though my best friend Michael (@Aethelred) is an enthusiast, so I guess I've picked up a little by osmosis. What are the design elements here? I recognize the anchor on the fifth coin, and see a ship's prow on the third (which I think is neat), but I must confess these little Holy Land prutahs are still fairly alien to me. No less interesting for that, though. A touch of mystery can be appealing.
Wonderful!!! It' hard NOT to be attracted to coins struck under Herod and sons---so much history to ponder.
Thanks, Lordmarcovan! I'm still learning these symbols. All of these coins are from a period in Jewish coinage when images of humans and creatures were forbidden. You're correct about the anchor and ship symbols. Herod the Great coins often feature a tripod or ceremonial three legged table. A crown or diadem of Herod with the a Greek letter chi is one motif and the inscription "Of King Herod" in Greek
Aha! So the "no graven images" thing, then? Nothing smacking of idolatry, like their heathen Roman overlords were so prone to? I suppose this was something like the later Islamic coins that have no pictorial images for the same reason, except occasionally some leaves or flowers? Interesting. I hadn't considered that angle.
I'd like to learn more about prutahs too if someone wants to gently educate us. I know I can Google or Wikipedia it but that is so impersonal. .
I'll be glad to pass what I learn on to my CoinTalk Family. I think there are some members of this forum who have more knowledge of Judaean coinage than I however. Theodosius, I recently learned from a CoinTalk member that a more correct plural for prutah is "prutot"
You inspire me to constantly add to my wishlist of coins! I'm really hoping I can pick some of them up in 2017! Erin
Well, there's something I didn't know. I have heard both terms, of course, but did not know that one was the plural form of the other. In fact, it would have almost seemed to me that "prutot" would be the singular form and "prutah" the plural, if I'd had to guess, so thanks for setting that straight.
D-Ray => Congrats on bulking-up on your prutahs ... ummm, or is there a plural that I'm forgetting? (prutahs sounded good enough) ... great coins (are you giving those babies away, or what?)
all your judean coins look pretty dang awesome DR, most of the type i see (and both of mine) are pretty rough.
