Judaea. Hasmonean Kingdom. John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan). AE Double Prutah (5.34 g.). Uncertain Samarian mint. 'Yehohanan the High Priest and Head of the Council of the Jews' (Paleo-Hebrew), double cornucopia adorned with ribbons, within circular beaded border. Reverse: Macedonian helmet with high crest and cheek guards right, within circular beaded border; in lower left field, monogram. Hendin 1136; TJC grp. H, pl. 18. An important Judaean rarity. Despite the usual rough planchet, this major rarity is among the better examples know with plenty of detail present. NGC graded Choice Very Fine, Strike: 3/5, Surface: 2/5. Estimated Value $10,000 - UP
The types of this rare coin depart dramatically from the usual iconographic repertorie of John Hyrcanus I. The parallel double cornucopia is distinct from the splayed double cornucopiae of Hyrcanus' main coinage with its apparent associations with the preisthood of the Jerusalem Temple. Here the parallel cornucopiae and the Macedonian cavalry helmet may be derived from the roughly contemporary coinage of the Seleukid usurper, Alexander II Zabinas (128-122 BCE). Josephus (AJ 33.93) tells us the Hyrcanus and Zabinas were on friendly terms, presumably because both had an interest in defending their claims to power against the legitimate kings of the Seleukid dynasty.