Session 11 (9.30am Friday)

Sale 66    28–30 Mar 2001   Wentworth Hotel   Sydney

  PrevNext  

Lot 3472    Session 11 (9.30am Friday)    Session 11 (9.30am Friday)

Estimate $220
Bid at live.noble.com.au

PALESTINE, Judaea, Hasmonean king Mattathias Antigonus, (40-37 B.C.), AE 19, copper multiple (four) prutah, (8.27 grams), obv. single cornucopiae, inscription, 'Mattatayah the high priest', rev. wreath with partial inscription within **[BASILEOS ANTIGONOU]*, (S.6105, H.482 (35), AJC I V var. pl.54, Meshorer 31). Off centred on the reverse, otherwise very fine and rare in this condition.

The use by Antigonus of the priestly title in Hebrew on the obverse of this coin is significant. His enemy, Herod, could not adopt this title, and could only employ the international language, Greek, in the inscription (Money) of King Herod. The propaganda value of such weighty coins could well have been a chief raison d'etre for Antigonus striking them. In comparison, the coinage of Herod was thinner. It is possible that a shrewd Herod struck lighter coins of a larger diameter to fool the public.

Estimate / sale price does not include buyer's premium (currently 22% including GST) which is added to hammer price. All bids are executed on the understanding that the Terms & Conditions of sale have been read and accepted. For information on grading and estimates please refer to the Buying at Auction advice.

Quick find

View a lot by number and sale.

Adjacent lots

  • Lot 3470  

    PALESTINE, Judaea, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), (103-76 B.C.), copper prutah, (1.79 grams), obv. legend in wreath, ...

    Estimate $80

  • Lot 3471  

    PALESTINE, Judaea, Alexander Jannaeus, (103-76 B.C.), copper prutahs, obv. anchor, rev. star etc., (cf.S. 6087-6092, ...

    Estimate $150

  • Lot 3472   This lot

    PALESTINE, Judaea, Hasmonean king Mattathias Antigonus, (40-37 B.C.), AE 19, copper multiple (four) prutah, (8.27 ...

    Estimate $220

  • Lot 3473  

    PALESTINE, Roman Procurator of Judaea, Valerius Gratus under Tiberius, (A.D. 15-26), copper prutah, (1.820 grams), ...

    Estimate $80

  • Lot 3474  

    PALESTINE, Roman Procurator of Judaea, Valerius Gratus under Tiberius, (A.D. 15-26), copper prutah, (1.470 grams), ...

    Estimate $200