Coins of the Herodians and the Roman Procurators of Judea
Herod "the Great" Herodian Oil Lamp ca. 1st cent. A.D. Adler 92 (HER.3 type), 86mm length, 64mm width (Author's collection)  JUDAEA, Samaria
Herod I “the Great”
40 – 4 B.C. Æ 8 Prutot, 25mm
Samarian mint
Obv: Helmet with chin straps,
wreath of acanthus leave, star above,
flanked by palm branches
Rev: Sacrificial tripod
HPΩΔOY BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ
LΓ = regnal year 3
Ref: Hendin 486 (Author's collection) Herod Antipas
 Herod Antipas "the fox"
Year 34 (30-31 A.D.)
Full Denomination, 24mm, 11.33g
Obv: Reed upright, date
"of Herod the Tetrarch"
Rev: Inscription within wreath
"Tiberias"
Ref: RPC 4926, TJC 84 (Author's collection)  Herod Antipas "the fox"
Year 24 (30 A.D.)
Full Denomination, 22mm
Obv: Reed upright, date
"of Herod the Tetrarch"
Rev: Inscription within wreath
"Tiberias"
Ref: Hendin 509 (Author's collection)  Herod Antipas "the fox"
Year 33 (29 A.D.)
Half Denomination, 20mm
Obv: Reed upright, date
"of Herod the Tetrarch"
Rev: Inscription within wreath
"Tiberias"
Ref: Hendin 513 (Author's collection)  Herod Antipas "the fox"
Year 33 (29 A.D.)
Half Denomination, 19mm
Obv: Reed upright, date
"of Herod the Tetrarch"
Rev: Inscription within wreath
"Tiberias"
Ref: Hendin 516 (Author's collection)  Herod Antipas "the fox"
Year 33 (29 A.D.)
Quarter Denomination, 15mm
Obv: Reed upright, date
"of Herod the Tetrarch"
Rev: Inscription within wreath
"Tiberias"
Ref: Hendin 524 (Author's collection) 
JUDAEA, Herodians. Herod III Antipas. 4 BCE-39 CE. Æ Half Unit 17mm, 6.16g. Tiberias mint. Dated RY 43 (39 CE) RPC 4935; Meshorer 92; Hendin 1216
Pontius Pilate (26-36 A.D.)
Pilate inscription in Caesarea Maritima
JUDAEA, Procurators.
Pontius Pilate, 26-36 A.D.
Æ Prutah (dated RY 16 = 29 A.D.)
Obv: three bound grain ears
IOYΛIA KAICAPOC
Rev: simpulum
TIBЄPIOY KAICAPOC LIς
Ref: Meshorer 331; Hendin 648 (Author's collection)
JUDAEA, Procurators.
Pontius Pilate, 26-36 A.D.
Æ Prutah 16mm 2.38g axis 12
(dated RY 16 = 29 A.D.)
Obv: three bound grain ears
IOYΛIA KAICAPOC
Rev: simpulum
TIBЄPIOY KAICAPOC LIς
Ref: Meshorer 331; Hendin 1341 (Author's collection) - This coin featured in Biblical Archaeological Review (July/August, 2017 - see below)
 JUDAEA, Jerusalem
Pontius Pilate, 26-36 A.D.
Æ Prutah, 17mm, 1.67g
Obv: Lituus
Rev: Wreath with date within, HZ (30 A.D.)
Ref: Hendin 649 (Author's collection)  JUDAEA, Jerusalem
Pontius Pilate, 26-36 A.D.
Æ Prutah, 17mm
Obv: Lituus
Rev: Wreath with date within, LIZ (30 A.D.)
Ref: Hendin 649 (Author's collection)  JUDAEA, Jerusalem
Pontius Pilate, 26-36 A.D.
Æ Prutah, 17mm
Obv: Lituus
Rev: Wreath with date within, LIH (30 A.D.)
Ref: Hendin 649 (Author's collection) Antonius Felix (52-59 A.D.
JUDAEA, Procurators. Antonius Felix. 52-59 A.D. Prutah 17mm, 2.9g. RY 14 of Claudius 54 CE. alm branches. Meshorer 342; Hendin 651 (Author's collection)
Porcius Festus (59-62 A.D.)
Judaea, Porcius Festus, Roman Procurator under Nero, 59 - 62 A.D. Obverse: Palm branch; Reverse: Legend. Hendin 653 (Author's collection)
Judaea, Porcius Festus, Roman Procurator under Nero, 59 - 62 A.D. Obverse: Inverse inscription; Reverse: Legend. Hendin 653 (Author's collection)
Tribute Penny
 Tiberius
Rome
14 – 37 A.D. AR Denarius (3.8g)
Obv.: Laur. bust of emp., r.
TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS
Rev.: Livia as Pax, seated r.
PONTIF MAXIM
Ref: RIC 28 (Author's collection)  Tiberius
Rome
14 – 37 A.D. AE Denarius
Obv.: Laur. bust of emp., r.
TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS
Rev.: Livia as Pax, seated r.
PONTIF MAXIM
Ref: RIC 28 variation - unpublished bronze variation
(formerly Author's collection) |
 JUDAEA, Samaria
Herod I “the Great”
40 – 4 B.C. Æ 8 Prutot, 21mm
Obv: Crested helmet depicted in
profile, flanked by date and monogram
Rev: Ornamented shield
HPΩΔOY BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ
LΓ = regnal year 3
Ref: Meshorer 45b; Hendin 487 (Author's collection)  JUDAEA, Jerusalem
Herod I, 40-4 B.C.
Æ Prutah
Obv: Winged caduceus
Rev: Poppy on branch
Ref: Hendin 488 (Author's collection)  JUDAEA, Jerusalem
Herod I, 40-4 B.C.
Æ Prutah, 16mm, 2.35g
Obv: Aphlaston
Rev: Palm branch
Ref: Hendin 489 (Author's collection)  JUDAEA, Jerusalem
Herod I, 40-4 B.C.
Æ Prutah, 1.2g
Obv: Legend
Rev: Anchor
Ref: Hendin 498 (Author's collection)  JUDAEA, Jerusalem
Herod I, 40-4 B.C.
Æ Prutah 14mm
Obv: Graven image of Eagle
Rev: Cornucopiae
Ref: Hendin 501 (Author's collection). 
JUDAEA, Jerusalem. Herod I "the Great" 40-4 B.C. AE Prutah Obv: Anchor and legend, Rev: Galley. Hendin 502. Struck around 10 B.C. founding port of Maritima. One of the finest known examples (Author's collection)
Herod Archelaus
 Herod Archelaus
(Son of Herod I)
4 B.C. – 6 A.D. Æ Prutah
Samaria, 16mm
Obv.: Anchor ΗΡWΔ BACI
Rev.: Cornucopiae
(Author's collection) 
JUDAEA, Herodians. Herod II Archelaus. 4 BCE-6 CE. Obverse: Cluster of grapes; Reverse: Helmet. (Author's collection)
 JUDAEA Herod Archelaus, Prutah 4 BC - 6 CE Galley Prow. Hendin 506, Meshorer TJC 72d (Author's collection) Herod Philip
 JUDAEA, Herod IV Philip, with Tiberius. 4 BCE-34 CE. Æ 21mm Tetrastyle temple. Hendin 533 (formerly Author's collection) Agrippa I
JUDAEA, Herodian Kings. Agrippa I. 37-44 CE. Æ Prutah (3.04 gm). Year 6 (41-42 CE). BACILEWC AGRIPA, umbrella-like canopy; Three ears of barley between L S (date). Hendin 553; AJC II 249, 11
Caesonia, with Julia Drusilla
JUDAEA, Caesaraea Paneas. Caesonia, with Julia Drusilla. Augusta, AD 39-41. Æ 18mm Dated RY 5 of Agrippa I (AD 40-1). Draped bust of Caesonia left, wearing hair in long plait; Drusilla standing facing, head right, holding Nike and branch. RPC 4977; Meshorer 117. Extremely rare. (Author's collection)
Agrippina and Octavia
Apparently struck after Nero's accession, since the reverse legend calls Octavian "(wife) of the Augustus", but before Nero murdered his mother in 59, since she still appears on the obverse of the coin. According to the RPC index, this is the only coin known of Agrippina II (Nero's mother) and Octavia (Nero's wife) together.
JUDAEA, Caesarea Panias
Agrippina and Octavia
(50-59 AD and 54-62 AD)
Æ 18mm, 7.12g
Obv: AGRIPPINA - AVG Agrippina II seated left holding branch and cornucopia, crescent in left field. Rx: OCTAVIA - AVGVSTI Octavia standing left holding patera over lighted altar.
Ref: Meshorer 353 var. (no crescent);
Hendin 1269 var. / corr. (same);
RPC I 4845 corr. (5 specimen cited)
(Author's collection)
Jewish Procurator TypesCoponius (6-9 A.D.)
 JUDAEA, Procurators.
Coponius, 6-9 A.D.
Æ Prutah, 17mm, 2.00g
Obv: Crossed shields and spears
Rev: Palm tree
Ref: Hendin 635 (Author's collection) Marcus Ambibulus (9-12 A.D.)
 JUDAEA, Procurators.
Marcus Ambibulus, 9-12 A.D.
Æ Prutah, 16mm, 2.08g
Obv: Crossed shields and spears
Rev: Palm tree
Ref: Hendin 636 (Author's collection) Valerius Gratus (15-26 A.D.)
 JUDAEA, Procurators.
Valerius Gratus, 15-26 A.D.
Æ Prutah
Obv: Palm fron, date LB
Rev: legend within wreath, TIB, KAI, CAP
Ref: Hendin 639 (Author's collection)  JUDAEA, Procurators.
Valerius Gratus, 15-26 A.D.
Æ Prutah
Obv: Palm fron, IOVLIA, date
Rev: legend within wreath, IOY, LIA
Ref: Hendin (Author's collection)  JUDAEA, Procurators.
Valerius Gratus, 15-26 A.D.
Æ Prutah
Obv: Crossed cornucopiae, TIBEPIOY, date
Rev: legend within wreath, KAI, CAP
Ref: Hendin 641 (Author's collection) 
JUDAEA, Procurators.
Valerius Gratus, 15-26 A.D. (dated year 4)
Æ Prutah, 16mm 1.9g
Obv: Wide kantharos with date at base
Rev: grape vine and leaf, TIBEPIOY above. AJC supp. V, 15. Hendin 644.
 JUDAEA, Procurators.
Marcus Ambibulus, 15-26 A.D.
Æ Prutah
Obv: Three lillies
Rev: legend within wreath
Ref: Hendin 642 (Author's collection) |
Star of Bethlehem Series
Largely based on the research of Dr. Molnar and Cartwright, the following coin has been identified as representing the Star that appeared over Bethlehem, heralding the birth of Jesus Christ. Ancient writings show that Judea was represented by the Ram Aries in the zodiac and particular positions of the other heavenly bodies represented regal divinity. The first appearance of this astrological sign, according to the work by Molnar and Cartwright, suggest it reached its zenith in Judea on April 17, 6 B.C. On that date, a rare convergence of celestial bodies occurred - Venus, followed by Saturn, the Moon, Jupiter and the sun which were located in Aries.
Position of planets in Aries on sunrise of 17 April, 6 B.C. (taken from Dr. Molnar's research)
Stellerium reconstruction of planetary position on 17 April, 6 B.C. (reconstruction by T.B. Cartwright)
A series of coins, minted in Antioch, were produced illustrating the same motif at various anniversary dates of the Star's original appearance. Coins were minted on the 25th, 60th, 100th, 125th, 150th, 200th, and 250th year anniversary of Christ's birth and death. The coin below was minted on the 60th anniversary of his birth, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of his crucifixion.
SYRIA. Antioch. Nero (AD 54-68). Æ 17mm 5.93 g yr 105 Caesarian era, 56-57 A.D. (Author's collection)
SYRIA. Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch. Pseudo-autonomous Time of Nero (54-68). Trichalkon (Author's collection)