Judaea, Hasmonean Kingdom. Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan). Æ Prutah (2.47 g), 103-76 BCE. Jerusalem. 'Yehonatan the King' (Paleo-Hebrew), lily, within circular beaded border. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩ AΛEΞANΔPOY, inverted anchor within circle. Hendin 1148; TJC grp. N. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $200 - UP
This emission seems to look back to the Seleukid coinage struck by John Hyrcanus I for his ostensible overlord, the Seleukid king Antiochos VII Sidetes in 132-130 BCE. Both feature a lily on the obverse as a symbol of Jerusalem and an anchor as a badge of royal (Seleukid) authority. Here, however, Jannaeus seems to use it as a means of indicating his legitimacy as the successor to the now feeble and virtually extinct line of Seleukid kings. It is no accident that the Paleo-Hebrew legend appears alongside the Jewish emblem of the lily while the Greek legend is associated with the anchor.
Ex Kenneth Brattlie Collection, from Gemini IX, 1/8/2012, lot 173.