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Jewish Coins :
King Mattathias Antigonus : Maccabean Bronze of King Mattathias Antigonus
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Maccabean Bronze of King Mattathias Antigonus - C.10297
Origin: Israel
Circa: 40
BC
to 37
BC
Collection: Numismatics
Style: Jewish Coin
Medium: Bronze
Condition: Very Fine
$2,500.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
Obverse: Double Cornucopia with Ear of Barley in
the Center
Reverse: Hebrew Inscription, "Mattatayah,"
Surrounded by Wreath
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
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.10297)
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