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VIRTUAL JEWISH MUSEUM
Description
ROMAN GOVERNORS - PROCURATORS
5. Procurators /Roman Governors
Once Archelaus was removed, Rome installed a series of governors over Judaea, known as Procurators. Their names do not appear on these Prutah coins, rather the names of the emperors under whom they served, and the dates of Emperors’ rule. Many of them bear agricultural images that the religious population would be comfortable with, with some exceptions.
Once Archelaus was removed, Rome installed a series of governors over Judaea, known as Procurators. Thirteen such governors were appointed between 27 BCE and 66 CE (when the First Revolt broke out). These officials had power of life and death, the right to collect taxes and to appoint the Kohen Gadol in the Temple. Six are thought to have issued coins. Their names do not appear on these Prutah coins, rather the names of the emperors under whom they served, and the dates of Emperors’ rule. Many of them bear agricultural images that the religious population would be comfortable with, but there are exceptions.
 Procurator PrutotUnder the governorship of the procurators, various prutot were issued, intermittently. They are all copper and about the same size. |  Procurator Coponius.1328Coponius was governor under emperor Augustus, from 6 - 9 CE. His prutah shows an appropriate palm tree and ear of grain. The date, using Greek letters as numbers (similar to the Hebrew system) reads '36' referring to the reign of Augustus. |  Pocurator Marcus Ambibulus.1329Marcus Ambibulus replaced Coponius under emperor Augustus, from 9 - 12 CE. His prutah continues the palm tree and ear of grain. The date is now '39', referring to the reign of Augustus. |
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 Procurator.Marcus Ambibulus.1330Marcus Ambibulus continued to issue prutah coins with the same designs. This one dated '40' referring to the reign of Augustus. |  Procurator.M.Ambibulus.1331Marcus Ambibulus continued to issue prutah coins with the same designs. This one dated '41' referring to the reign of Augustus. |  Procurators under AugustusThese four form a mini-series. |
 Procurator.Valerius Gratus.1332Tiberius became emperor in 14 CE . Under him, several procurators issued coins. Valerius Gratus was the first. His coins show crossed cornucopias and a wreath. TIB is the emperor, LB signifies year 'B' / 2 of his reign. In a wreath on the reverse we read 'KAICAR' = Caesar. |  Procurator.Valerius Gratus.1333This type was apparently issued in the same year - 2. It shows a stalk of grain and a wreath. In the wreath we read 'IOYLIA' = Julia. Julia Livia was emperor Tiberius's mother, the empress wife of the late Augustus. |  Procurators_editedThis colonial coin (from Thessalonica in Macedon) pictures Tiberius on the obverse and his mother Julia Livia on the reverse. These are the 2 people mentioned by name on the procurator coins. |
 Procurator.Valerius Gratus.1334This type was apparently issued in year 3, indicated by the Greek gamma on the right of the crossed cornucopia. 'Tiberioy' appears above. In the wreath we now read 'Kaicar' = Caesar. |  Procurator.Valerius Gratus.1335This type was apparently issued in the same year - 3. The obverse shows a bouquet of 3 lilies. It is anonymous. On the reverse we again read 'IOYLIA' = Julia. Julia Livia was emperor Tiberius's mother, the empress wife of the late Augustus. |  Procurator.Valerius Gratus.1336The next year, 'D' = 4, shows completely new types. One side displays a vine and small bunch of grapes. Above we read 'Ioylia'. The other side presents a narrow amphora, a storage vessel, with fancy handles, and the date. |
 Procurator.Valerius Gratus.1337The same year, 'D' = 4, shows a variation on the design. Now the vine is attached to a large grape leaf. Above we should read 'kaicar'. The other side presents a wide kantharos, a drinking cup, and the name 'Tiberioy'. |  Procurator Designs PrototypeHere are two coins issued 50 years apart but with unmistakable similarities. On the right is a procurator coin from 17 CE. On the left is a coin issued by the Jews in the first revolt, 67 CE. The obverse shows a vessel for liquids and the reverse displays a vine and prominent grape leaf. Did they circulate at the same time? |  Procurator.Valerius Gratus.1338The same year, 'D' = 4, shows a third design. the wreath is back, with 'TIB KAICAR' inside. The other side features a stalk of grain. Across it we read 'IOYLIA' and below 'L' (stands for 'year') and a delta = D = 4. |
 Procurator.Valerius Gratus.1339The design continues - only the date changes. It now reads 'L E' signifying the fifth year of Tiberius's reign - 18-19 CE. |  Procurator.Valerius Gratus.1340The design continues. Now it is 6 years later. the date reads 'I A' (= 10 + 1 = 11). That corresponds to 24/25 CE. |  Procurator. Valerius GratusHere are all three dates with the same design. |
 Procurator.Pontius Pilate.1341Pontius Pilate became the new procurator under Tiberius in about 17 CE. The types are new: 3 ears of grain on one side with the legend 'IOYLIA KAICAROC' above. The other side pictures a simpulum - a type of ladle used in Roman sacrifices. Around we read 'TIBERIOY KAICAROC LIS' with 'IS' marking the date: 10+6 = 16. Pilate is remembered for cruelty and antagonism, hinted at in these offensive designs. |  Procurator.Pontius Pilate.1342This new type is also attributed to Pilate. The wreath is familiar. Inside is the date: L IZ = 17 = 30 CE. The other side has the legend 'TIBERIOY KAICAROC'. More noteworthy is the image. It is a staff with a curved top called a 'Lituus'. It was used in Roman religious ceremonies and would be completely offensive to traditional Jews. |  Procurator.Pontius Pilate.1342aThe types continue on this coin. The date is similar but the last letter is reversed. It looks like a backwards 'Z' which could just be a die-engraver's error, and the date is the same as the previous coin. Alternately, it could be an 'S', giving a date of '16', which is one year earlier. |
 Procurators.1341-2.revHere we see the two dates compared. |  Procurator.Pontius Pilate.1343The types continue on this coin. The date is one year later: 'LIH' = 18 = 31-32 CE. |  Procurator.Antonius Felix.1347This procurator served in the reign of Emperor Claudius (41-54 CE). His coin shows a wreath; inside we read IOYLIA AGRIPPINNA. This is a different Julia. She was Claudius' niece and 3rd wife. Crossed palms and the date ID = regnal year 14 = 54 CE. Around 'TI(berius) KLAUDIOC KAICAR GERM(anicus) - the emperor's full name. |
 Procurator.Antonius Felix.1348This prutah features a traditional palm tree. The date is again 'ID' = 14, and KAI for Caesar. Notably above the tree is BRIT referring to Claudius' son Britannicus. The other side shows 2 crossed shields and spears. Around reads 'NERO KLAY KAICAR' referring to another son of Claudius. |  Procurator.Porcius Festus.1351Nero became emperor upon the death of Claudius. After Antonius Felix, the next procurator was Porcius Festus. This coin was issued by one of them. The designs are a stalk of grain and a wreath. Around the grain: LE (year 5 = 59/60 CE) KAICAROC. In the wreath: NERWNOC (Nero). |  Procurator.Porcius Festus.1351cThis is the same coin as the previous one - except that it was very crudely produced. The grain side is crude and the wreath side shows blundered legend with 'N's engraved backwards. |
 Procurators.1351.comparedHere are the two versions, side by side. |  Procurator.Caesaria ImitationSmall bronze coins are found in Caesarea which show combinations of designs drawn from locally issued coins in Judea and also Tyre, Lebanon. They are called 'Minima' because of their small half-prutah size and are thought to be non-Jewish imitations issued for local use. They are not common but dozens of combinations have been found. This one shows a grape leaf and a stalk of grain. |
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