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HOME :
Jewish Coins :
Numismatic Masterpieces : Maccabean Bronze Coin of King Mattatayah Antigonus
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Maccabean Bronze Coin of King Mattatayah Antigonus - C.461
Origin: Judean Hills, Israel
Circa: 40
BC
to 37
BC
Collection: Numismatics
Medium: Bronze
$800.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
Obverse: Greek Insription, "King Antigonus,"
Surrounded by Wreath
Reverse: Cornucopia Encircled by Hebrew
Inscription: "Mattatayah High Priest"
Mattatayah Antigonus, the ambitious son of
Aristobulus II, led several futile Jewish rebellions
against the Romans during his father's
imprisonment, only increasing Rome's suspicions of
independence-minded Jews. In 43 B.C., the murder
of Antipater, the chief supporter of his Roman-
aligned uncle, Hyrcanus II, led Antigonus launch a
last attempt to seize control of Judea. He was
defeated in battle by Antipater's younger son,
Herod. But Antigonus allied himself with the
Parthians, who were challenging Rome for control of
Syria and Palestine. . "[Antigonus] promised [to
Parthia] one thousand talents and five hundred
women to dispose of Hyrcanus and give the throne
to [him] ." Proclaiming Antigonus king, a Parthian
force took Jerusalem in 40 B.C., deposed Hyrcanus
from power and held Herod's older brother, Phasael,
hostage. Herod, however, escaped and rallied
Roman support. After the Parthians were defeated
by Marc Antony, Antigonus was eventually captured
by Herod in 37 B.C., and delivered to the Romans at
Antioch, where he was executed, thus marking the
transition from the end of the Maccabean Dynasty
and the beginning of the Herodian.
How many hands have touched a coin in your
pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the
coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As
we reach into our pockets to pull out some change,
we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin
before us, or where the coin will venture to after us.
More than money, coins are a symbol of the state
that struck them, of a specific time and place,
whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long
forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin
reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate
sculptural details that are often lacking in
contemporary machine-made currencies. The coins
of Mattatayah Antigonus include inscriptions in both
Hebrew and Greek, indicating the influence of
Hellenized areas within Judea. The struggle of
Jewish independence, as represented by this coin,
has in modern times finally come to an end. This
coin reconnects us with the past, with those who
fought and struggled for their freedom against an
oppressive empire over two thousand year ago.
- (C.461)
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