Maccabean Bronze Hasmonean Coin (2nd Century B.C.)

$60.00

Ancient bronze coin from the Hasmonean Period

Good Condition
Side A: double cornucopia design with a pomegranate in the middle (this same design is on the 2 shekel coin of the current NIS)

Side B: Paleo-Hebrew inscription with a wreath on the outside. Inscription reads, “Jochanan (John Hyrcanus I or II), the high priest, and council of the Jews.” This indicates the minting authority during Hasmonean rule.

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Description

Jewish Maccabean Bronze Hasmonean Coin.

After the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucids, the Hasmonean dynasty gained enough independence to mint their own coins.

In 138 B.C., Antiochus VII issued a decree allowing the Jews to mint their own coins, an event that is recorded in 1 Maccabees 15. The Hasmoneans continued to use silver Seleucid coins for the larger denominations. They began to mint small bronze coins with the name of each ruler.  The names that can be found on these coins are

Yochanan – John Hyrcanus I (103-105 B.C) and John Hyrcanus II (63-40 B.C.)
Yehonatan – Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 B.C.)
Yehudah – Judah Aristobulus (104-103 B.C.)
Mathias – Matthias Antigonus (40-37 B.C.)

The bronze Hasmonean coin has a variety of symbols, including the double cornucopia (found on the modern NIS 2 Shekel coin). The lily (found on the NIS 1 Shekel coin), the star, and the palm branch. The most fascinating aspect of these coins, however, are their inscriptions.

The inscription on these coins (except the star design Alexander Jannaeus) reads.  “Name of the ruler, high priest, and council of the Jews” in an ancient paleo-Hebrew script. It makes most sense that this inscription indicates the name of the minting authority of these coins.

The most interesting part of these inscriptions is the script which was used. The paleo-Hebrew script on these coins was the common script during the Israelite monarchy (during the days of King David and Solomon). However, after around the fifth century B.C., we see the square Aramaic script replace the old paleo-Hebrew script.

These coins were minted 300 years after it was believed that this paleo-Hebrew script had been extinct. Why is this? There is much debate on why this script is used.

One belief is that the Hasmoneans used this style of script in order to make a political statement that they were restoring the old Davidic dynasty.  Another belief is that this older script was used to enhance the value and tradition of these coins. Much in the same way that the U.S. dollar uses Latin.

A third belief is that the script was still in use, and was well known during the second century B.C., even though we have very few preserved texts from this period in paleo-Hebrew.

One exception is that many of the Dead Sea Scrolls use paleo-Hebrew for the name of God.  This demonstrates the belief of that same period that the current Aramaic script was not pure enough to write the name of God. The old paleo-Hebrew was used to preserve the holiness of God’s name.

This indicates that this script was known to the minters, and probably also to the everyday people of this time. By using this script, the Hasmonean rulers are recreating and restoring an ancient dynasty in Israel.

Zak’s Antiquities is the website of Zak’s fine art and antiquities located on the Christian Quarter road in Jerusalem’s Old City. The shop began in 1964 and has remained as a family owned and operated business till this day. For the past 50 years Zak’s Antiquities has sold ancient coins, antiquities and art authentic to Israel and Jerusalem.

Additional information

Weight 0.5 kg
Dimensions 1 × 1 × 1 cm