Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Lot 3171    SESSION 11 (9.30AM THURSDAY 2ND APRIL)    Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Estimate $200
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $120

PALESTINE, Judaea, King Herod I (The Great), (37 - 4 B.C.), issue of year 3 = 37 B.C., copper eight prutah, AE 25, (10.03 g), obv. tripod with ceremonial bowl, around **BASILEWS HPWDOU*, date L **G* to left TP monogram to right, rev. helmet flanked with palm branches and star, (S.5523, H.1169, HGC 10, 40, AJC II, No.1 [p.235], Meshorer 44). Soil patination a dusty-green patina, weak in places, otherwise nearly very fine and rare.

Ex CNG eSale 324 (lot 205) with ticket.
The helmet on the reverse has been the subject of much comment. Initially called by Madden in 1864 a vessel, others like Kindler in 1974 refer to it as a thymaterion (an incense burner). Meshorer and Hendin in more recent times called it a helmet. Its confirmation as a helmet was shown by Hendin in the Israel Numismatic Journal Vol.11 1990-1 in which a superb specimen clearly showed a wreathed helmet with a large leaf as a central device. Thus the object is a soldier's helmet with a wreath, cheek pieces and straps. Leaves on helmets were a suitable symbol and design motif at this time as Herod I did not depict human images on any of his coins.