I am not an expert at all in coins of Judaea. However, I received this one in a hoard and it is reasonably good shape so I decided to post it. Trying to attribute it has been a lengthy process. I believe it to be a lepton of Alexander Jannaeus, 103-76 B.C.E. Obverse: Anchor, Reverse: 8-pointed star. If anyone who is more expert in attributing such coins, please advise. Thanks!
Yes, that's correct. It's the coin most often associated with Jesus' story of the widow's mite, but there were other prutoh circulating at the time as well. However, these types were minted in huge quantities and ubiquitous in commerce, so they are the most likely candidates.
Oh yeah, I forgot to add that this should be an open thread for posting coins of Palestine. If you've got any to share I'd love to see them.
I got a sweet example a few months ago from JAZ Numismatics. A very nice one considering most out there are worn and beat up to death. The mint had poor quality control for these and they were in circulation for an obscene amount of time. @ancient coin hunter you got a decent one too. Nice find. Alexander Jannaeus, 103-76 BC AE lepton, 2.7g, 16mm; Jerusalem mint. Obv.: Hebrew script between Star rays (YHNTN HMLK) = “Yehonatan the king," surrounded by royal diadem. Rev.: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝ∆ΡΟΥ (of King Alexander in Greek), anchor upside-down as if hanging on the side of a boat. Reference: Meshorer Group K; Hendin 1150.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but "Palestine" was a word Hadrian used when he combined the provinces of Syria and Judaea into Syria Palestina, after the Bar Kokhba revolt in AD 135. It was the Roman form of the ancient name of the region, Philistia. But the Judaeans that minted these prutoh would by no means have considered themselves Philistines. They were Judaeans of the Hasmonean Dynasty.
These are all I have, I do not focus on Biblical. Judaea Alexander Janneaeus 103-76 BC AE Prutah Wheel Widows Mite Ex: Given to me Judaea Pontius Pilate 14-37 CE - Prutah TIBEPIOY KAICAPOC Lituus Ex: @John Anthony Judaea Pontius Pilate - Prutah IOYLIA KAICAPOC daughter of Caesar Augustus Ex: @John Anthony
Here's another one in my collection. The condition is not as good as the first one I posted. Appears also to be Alexander Jannaeus, 103-76 B.C.E. Obverse: Yonatan the High Priest encircled by a wreath Reverse: Double Cornucopia Type: AE prutah
Welcome to the forum, ancient coin hunter! Judaean coins make a great collection especially if your a student of the Bible. I've been collecting them for several years. I've expanded my collection to include Biblical Kingdoms which opens the door to a vast selection of ancients.
Thank you! I'm enjoying getting into the sub-category of Judaean, Nabataen, and other coins of the ancient kingdoms, pretty biblical. Any idea what you could buy with a widow's mite?
Yup. Maybe 1 loaf of flat bread? Subsidized bread remains a staple in the middle east. In Egypt last time I was there I bought five loaves of flat bread for 25 piastres. 100 piastres to the Egyptian pound and 6.2 Egyptian pounds to the dollar. Works out to about 1 cent per loaf. Of course, you have to go early in the morning to the bakeries frequented by average everyday Egyptians, not the tourist outlets.
Europe & the middle east are on my bucket list. Seen a lot of this world when I was in my 20's -30's. Seeing the Mayan rruins in central america was a blast . But I don't think it compare to sites & relics of seeing the holy land, where great wars were faught the history and attempt to get the truth. Never know I may make it there in my 60's-
