Judaea, Hasmonean Kingdom. Judah Aristobulus I (Yehudah). Æ Prutah (2.36 g), 104-103 BCE. Jerusalem. 'Yehudah the High Priest and the Council of the Jews' (Paleo-Hebrew; block-style letters) in five lines within wreath. Rev. Double cornucopiae adorned with ribbons, pomegranate between horns, within circular beaded border. Hendin 1143; TJC grp. U. Well struck with full inscription clearly legible. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $200 - UP
From the Palm Desert Collection. Purchased from Superior in the 1980s.
The engraving of this emission of Judas Aristobulus I has linked it to early issues in the name of his brother and successor, Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 BCE). It is remarkable that these evidently late coins still refer to Aristobulus I only as High Priest when Josephus clearly states that he was the first of the Hasmonaean rulers to claim the title of king. This coinage may perhaps stand as evidence against whatever textual source Josephus used to craft his rather melodramatic account of the rule of Aristobulus I.