The Pontius Pilate coin on the left was my first love. It appears to have been submitted to NGC under either Economy or Bulk grading category because there is no discription, weight, strike, or surface information. This coin was already encapsulated when I bought it online from a dealer and it was my first Ancient Judaean coin after the many Widow's Mites that I had initially purchased. The Antonius Felix and the Porcius Festus were submitted to NGC under the Standard category which includes Description, Weight, Strike and Surface grading. When I bought my first non Widow's Mite---the Pontius Pilate---I had no intention of starting a collection. After each coin that I purchased in the early days I would say---okay that's enough---I don't need any more. Things have certainly changed! I've surrendered to my hobby needless to say. Why fight it! Anything that offers so many rewards as ancient coin collecting can't be bad!
Neat coins. Yours appear to be attractive examples. I have only got one, the Porcius Festus. It is interesting to compare the grades. I had mine graded as Ch VF, which looks to be correct. Strike 4, Surfaces 4.
Non-Widow's mite??? Is that your term for a prutah that is not the anchor/wheel type? All four above coins are a good deal above average for these issues. I know there are millions of them so the top 1% means there are many nice ones but part of the reason I can't get into them is I see them as so very ugly and so expensive due to demand from non collectors. Does anyone know who started the idea od naming these types after the Procurators when the coins themselves never mention them? I'm not saying that Festus was not on scene when the coin was issued in Nero's year five but other Provincials from other regions don't dwell much on local magistrates even when their names appear on the coins.
No idea, Doug. I can only guess the reason is because of the non-collectors, as you mentioned. One reason these are so popular is because these coins provide a direct link to stories in the Bible - and the people interested in these stories are the ones most often buying them. Pilate, Felix, and Festus all feature in the Bible - and, as the procurators of Judea, would have been the ones in charge of the local mints. And so, the coins are identified with them. That's my guess, anyways.
My apologies, Doug!!! LOL!!! I admit that I've bought into some of the marketing tricks that are used to sell these coins. I agree that the Widow's Mites could have been coins other than the Jannaeus lepta or prutot that were in circulation at that time. I think identifying the various coins with the rulers and procurators is a way of organizing them chronologically and dating them. Here's another one that might amuse you---the coin of the Wise Men---the Azes I/II drachm. These coins are packaged like this and sold as the coins that the Magi presented to Mother Mary. I'm aware that a grain or two of salt is necessary to appreciate these claims but it's still a lot of fun!
D-Ray => I'm glad to hear that you're having fun ... that's the true goal, eh? => it's a very cool hobby (addictive yes, but it's still a very cool way to relax, as long as you don't start spending cash that you can't afford to spend)
Well said, Physics-fan3.14! The appeal of these coins is that they were produced and circulated during the time that Christ, the Apostles, Disciples and the first Christians walked the earth. It's possible that these coins were handled by the first Christians.
I appreciate a lot of the coins of the region without feeling the need to associate them with Bible stories. Probably the point I consider worst is how loose the coin trade plays with the dates. Dates for the Azes and even which Azes issued the coin makes the Wise Men link here pretty far out. I prefer to recruit my Wise men from the Parthians. At Christmas we sing We Three Kings of Orient Are and think of guys dressed up like Parthian kings on the coins. If I'm being picky I'll suggest coins of Phraates IV (37-2 BC) or V (AKA Phraataces - 2BC-4AD) but I do consider it a crying shame that their coins were silver, not gold, and don't have camels on the reverse. Phraates IV Phraataces Read up on these guys and especially on their wife/mother Musa (whose coins are super expensive) and you might suspect why the Wise Men were in the market for an upgrade king. Looking at the reverse here which is supposed to show a seated archer we might market them as a Wise man kneeling before a manger (actually the M ligature for the Mithradakart mint) offering a huge chest of gold, frankincense and myrrh (or a bow if you are a realist). Silly? Compared to some of the stories used in coin marketing I'd say I'm within reason. Just as we see Widow's Mites sold in pairs (she gave two), you may want three Parthians (OK, I know the Bible never says there were three Wise Men just that they gave three gift items but anything that sells coins is fair game, right?). Steve is a true modern day Wise Man. eh? I agree with this fully although feel obligated to point out that Christ himself avoided actually touching money on a couple of occasions. He asked to be shown the Tribute Penny, not to hold it, and he instructed Peter to catch the fish that contained the coin valued at the amount the two of them owed as a Temple Tax. Those who imagine the fingerprints on their coins as including His are what I would consider a bit past both faith and reason. I'm glad you said "earliest followers". Have you read any recommended books on Bible/Christianity related coins?
I'm 'paraphrase' what Steve posted: I'm glad you're having so much fun----within financial reason, of course And, I think they're cool too @Deacon Ray !!!
Excellent theory about the Wise Men! Now you've done it, Doug! I've been fighting the temptation to purchase Parthian coins. I'm afraid my resolve is crumbling!!! LOL!!! The only books I'm currently reading related to the subject are Hendin's Guide to Biblical Coins Fifth Edition and Ya' Akov Meshorer's Sylloge Nummorem Graecorum Part 6 Palestine-South Arabia. The likelihood of actually owning a coin that was touched by one of the Saints is extremely unlikely but infinitesimally possible. It's similar to the highly unlikely belief that we have when we purchase a lottery ticket. It's really the dream and the hope of winning 200 million dollars that we're paying for. The beauty of the Judaean coins is that we will never know with certainty whether or not the coin we are holding is one that was carried around in Saint Peter's pocket. So the dream and hope continues.
This has been my question for a long time. I've always thought the Pontius Pilate coins are more properly attributed to Tiberius. A 2008 dime from the San Francisco Mint isn't called an "Arnold Schwarzeneggar Dime". There is the claim that Pilate actually designed the coins himself, but I can't find any support for this: http://www.numismalink.com/fontanille1.html I think it's marketing - if you can associate an otherwise ordinary ugly coin with a biblical name, it will sell. Few people would buy these poor coins because of their eye appeal. I want the coin to have "Pontius Pilate" in the legend, or his portrait - or I'm not interested!
