VIRTUAL JEWISH MUSEUM

Herodian Coins

Traditional and Hellenist designs

Herod the Great. Large

Herod's largest coin, 24 mm. The obverse bears his name 'Of King Herod' in Greek. In the center a tripod and ceremonial bowl; left is the year 'LG' = year 3, and right a monogram. The reverse shows a fancy helmet with cheek guards and straps hanging down, a star on the crest, and a leaf design on the front. Weighing over 6 g, this is thought to be an 8 prutah piece.

Herod. Medium

The medium coin weighs over 4 g. and measures 20mm. it is considered a 4 prutah coin. The obverse has the inscription and shows a helmet, this time in side view with a clear crest. Some show one strap hanging down (see lower example), some coins show both (above). The reverse shows a decorated shield.

Herod. Small

This small denomination - perhaps 2 prutot - measures 18mm, weighing about 3.5 g. The obverse continues the name, around a winged caduceus in the center, flanked by the date and the monogram. The reverse shows a poppy on its stalk.

Herod.Smallest.Prutah

This smallest coin in the set at 2.4 g and 14 mm. must be 1 prutah. Same obverse inscription, around an 'aphlaston' (ship ornament), with date. The reverse shows a palm branch with an object on either side.

Herod.year 3 set.

These 4 denominations form a set. The date 'year 3' seems to refer to the beginning of his reign. Rome appointed him king in 40 BCE but he only occupied Jerusalem in 37, perhaps prompting this series, which is thought to be minted in Samaria.

Herod.diadem

This issue presents the name around a diadem. Inside is an X shape letter. These are 2.9g, 18mm, a double prutah coin. On some the diadem is open, on others closed. The reverse shows a 3-legged table - associated with the Temple - upon which is an object, perhaps a bowl. Palm branches surround it.

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This 1 prutah coin weighs 1.9 g and is 14 mm. wide. It repeats the diadem and X, with partial name and title. The reverse repeats the table.

Herod.Half Prutah

At .9 g and 12 mm., this is a half-prutah. The diadem is symbolized in miniature, with a partial legend around. The table appears inside a border of large dots.

Herod.Half-Prutah

Another half Prutah, weighing .9 g and 12mm diameter. The table continues while the other side shows crossed palm branches. There is a group of these little coins, with scattered and garbled legends and a variety of symbols. These were the pennies of the day.

Herod.Diadem set

The similar design form another set, although with no dates and no large denominations.

Herod.Caesarea

This half-prutah (.8 g & 13mm) shows 2 maritime themes: an anchor with traces of inscription on the obverse. The reverse clearly shows a war galley, with oars, a ram at the front, and the aphlaston decoration rising in the stern. Perhaps this celebrates Herod's elaborate construction of the port at Caesarea.

Herod.traditional

This coin has abbreviated legends: HRO BACI (Herod King). Notably it recalls the designs of the Hasmoneans: an anchor and a cornucopia. Those older coins were no doubt still in circulation during Herod's reign. Perhaps he wanted to demonstrate some continuation with those rulers. It's unclear if these were made early in Herod's reign or later.

Herod.Eagle

This half-prutah (.9 g, 13 mm) Is remarkable for its depiction of an eagle. Herod's other coins had avoided images of living things, perhaps out of sensitivity? However Herod had placed a golden eagle at the temple entrance, which the people later pulled down. That may be commemorated here. The reverse reads BACIL HROD - King Herod.

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Herod.Archelaus

This larger coin of Archelaus must be a double prutah. It weighs 2.8 g and 15 mm in diameter. One side shows a cornucopia and the name HROD(IC). The other side shows a war galley with the title EThNARX(OY) scattered above.

Herod.Archelaus_edited

This smaller coin with identical design weighs 1g and is 13 mm wide. It is more like a half-prutah than a whole prutah. The name is not clear around the cornucopia but the title EThNAR appears scattered above a smaller galley. The cornucopia are found turned in either direction on these coins.

Herod.Archelaus.Set

Here are the 2 denominations side by side.

Herod.Archeleus.prutah

This prutah weighs 2 g. It features a lovely bunch of grapes with vine on one side. The name of Herod is above. The other side features a war helmet with a flowing crest above and cheekpieces below. The title of ethnarch is at the bottom, followed by a caduceus.

Herod.Archelaus.reversed

Some specimens are found with the legends reversed. Here the title ethnarch appears around the grapes, and the name Herod appears under the helmet. It's hard to say if the engravers made a mistake since there are many of each version.

Herod.Archelaus.switched legends

Here we see the two versions next to each other.

Herod.Archeleus

At 1.3 g this coin is likely a half-prutah. One side shows the prow of a galley with HRO around. The other side abbreviates EThN inside a wreath. With the name and title on opposite sides of Archeleus's coins, it's hard to say which is the primary (obverse) side and which is the reverse.

Herod.Antipas

Antipas was a brother to Archelaus. He inherited the tetrarchy of Galil and the area immediately east of the Jordan river. He built the city of Tiberias, honoring the emperor. These coins were struck there. His population was mostly Jewish, reflected in his designs. Obverse reads HEROD TETRARXOY and the date LZ =37 (=33 CE). The reverse shows TIBERIAC in a wreath.

Herod.Antipas.small

This a smaller denomination, considered to be 1/4 of the larger unit. It weighs 4.6 g. This earlier issue, with a different shaped reed, is dated KD = 24 year of his reign (=20 CE). Antipas's coins are quite scarce.

Herod.Antipas.set

Antipas issued 4 sets of coins, each one consisting of a large unit, a half, a quarter and an eighth. They are all quite thick, and seem to follow a Roman system, not like the previous Jewish prutot. Here are shown a whole unit and a quarter.

Herod.Philip

Philip son of Herod was a half-brother. He ruled the north-east part of Judea. He built his capital Paneas and named it Caesarea Philippi. He issued 4 denominations, all rare. The obverse pictures emperor Augustus (which his mostly non-Jewish subjects could tolerate). The reverse reads PhILIPPOY TETRARXOY around a local temple to Augustus. Between the columns is the date '12' (=8 CE).

(Herod) Agrippa I

Marcus Julius Agrippa, named for Mark Antony and Julius Caesar, was Herod's grandson. Educated in Rome, he was friendly with Claudius and Caligula. They later granted him rule over all the Judean territories. He pleased his Jewish subjects by observing traditions. This coin was his prutah, a little heavy at 2.7g., showing 3 ears of barley and date 'year 6' on one side, a canopy and inscription 'of King Agrippa' on the other.

Agrippa II.Sepphoris

This unusual coin shows a caduceus between crossed cornucopia. The words (incomplete here) read 'In time of Vespasian in Irenopolis Neronias Sepphoris'. The reverse legend, in a wreath: 'Year 14 of Nero Claudius Caesar'. That is 67-68 CE. Vespasian was still general under Nero. Sepphoris was nicknamed 'city of Peace. H - 1276. Once Nero was damned by the Senate, that named was dropped from the city. Sepphoris did not resist Rome in the First Revolt.

Agrippa II

Agrippa II was the son of Agrippa I and bore the same name. He was young but eventually ruled over most of his father's territory. He lasted nearly 50 years. This coin, from about 75 CE, shows Titus on the obverse, Nike on the reverse , the date year 15, and name 'Agrippa' in the second line.

Agrippa II

Domitian is featured on this obverse. The reverse legend mentions 'year 18' - counting from year 60 that equals 78 CE. Nike inscribes on a shield. This is likely a 'Judea Capta' style coin and probably honors Rome's defeat of Judea (Agrippa's own country !). His allegiance to Rome did not falter.

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