Hasmonean coinage
Hasmonean coinage are the coins minted by the Hasmonean kings. Only bronze coins in various denominations have been found; the smallest being a prutah or a half prutah. Two Roman silver denarii are associated with the Hasmoneans; one has the inscription "BACCIUS JUDAEAS"; with its exact meaning unclear. Both show a man thought to be Yehuda Aristobolus bowing before a camel with a palm branch in his hand.
The Hebrew inscriptions found on Hasmonean coins are:
- "Yehochanan Kohen Gadol Chever Hayehudim" (Yehochanan the High Priest, Council of the Jews).
- "Yehochanan Kohen Gadol Rosh Chever Hayehudim" (Yehochanan the High Priest, Head of the Council of the Jews).
- "Yehonatan Kohen Gadol Chever Hayehudim" (Yehonatan the High Priest, Council of the Jews).
- "Yehonatan Hamelech" (Yehonatan the King).
- "Yehudah Kohen Gadol Chever Hayehudim" (Yehudah the High Priest, Council of the Jews).
- "Malka Aleksandros" (King Alexander)
- "Matisyahu Kohen Gadol Chever Hayehudim" (Matisyahu the High Priest, Council of the Jews).
- "Matisyahu HaKohen" (Matisyahu the High Priest).
- "Mattityah"
Contents
The Hasmonean Kingdom and era (164 – 35 BCE)
The Hashmonean kingdom lasted for 103 years. It was ruled by Simon the son of Matisyahu; then his son Yochanan, then his son Yehuda Aristobolus, then his wife Salome Alexandra, then his brother Alexander Yannai then his sons Hyrcanus and Aristobulus. When the brothers Hyrcanus and Aristoblulus each asked for Rome to intervene on their behalf; as a result Judea fell under the greater rule of Rome as an autonomous province but still with a significant amount of independence. The last Hashmonean king was Aristobulus's son Matisyahu Antigonus.
John Hyrcanus
John Hyrcanus (also known as Yochanan Hyrcanus) (reigned 134 – 104 BCE; died 104 BCE). Minted prutot that said:
- Yehochanan the Kohen Gadol and council of the Jews (Sanhedrin)
- Yehochanan the Kohen Gadol and the head of council of the Jews
- Yehochanan the Kohen Gadol and the [council of] the Jews
- 'A' (May have stood for Antiochus VII) Yehochanan the Kohen Gadol and council of the Jews
He also had monograms on some prutot on the cornucopia side, just left of the cornucopia, some resembling Ά, Π or Λ.
Alexander Jannaeus
Alexander Jannaeus (also known as Alexander Jannai/Yannai), king of Judea from (103 to 76 BCE), son of John Hyrcanus, inherited the throne from his brother Aristobulus, and married his brother's widow, Shlomtzion or "Shelomit" (see Coins of Alexander Jannaeus).
Obv: Seleucid anchor and Greek Legend: BASILEOS ALEXANDROU "King Alexander".
Rev: Eight-spoke wheel or starburst within diadem. Hebrew legend inside the spokes: "Yehonatan Hamelech" (Yehonatan the King).
Matisyahu Antigonus
Antigonus the Hasmonean (also known as Matisyahu Antigonus) was the son of King Aristobulus II of Judea.
Obv: Menorah with Greek inscription "BASILEWS ANTIGONOY" (King Antignus).
Rev: Showbread Table (Shulchon) with Hebrew inscription "Matisyahu HaKohen" (Matisyahu the High Priest).]]
Obv: Double cornucopia with ancient Hebrew script; reading "Matisyahu Kohen Gadol Chever Hayehudim" (Matisyahu the High Priest, Council of the Jews).
Rev: Greek inscription; reading "BASILEWS ANTIGONOY" (King Antignus).
See also
- List of historical currencies
- List of artifacts significant to the Bible
- Zuz
- Shekel
- Hasmonean
- Maccabees
- Maccabean Revolt
- Judah Maccabeus
- Jonathan Maccabaeus
- Simon Maccabeus
- Mattathias
- Alexander Jannaeus
- John Hyrcanus
- Aristobulus
- Salome Alexandra
- Hyrcanus II
- Aristobulus II
