Fontanille Coins
Auction 80 7 December 2015
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Herod the Great (40-4 B.C.E.) prutah struck in Jerusalem (GBC 1188 - Unlisted variety) 1.38 g.
A fascinating variety of the common prutah of Herod, struck by 2 reverse dies*. It is the 2nd example I have seen for Herod the Great. The other one, very spectacular, is the large denomination struck by the reverse dies R111-R119 (www.MenorahCoinProject.org)**. Striking a coin with 2 reverse dies was probably uneasy, so these coins were not struck by error, like the double strike or brockage are. I believe such coins are the result of a game, a kind of gamble or a challenge by the coin makers.
* This coin type is improperly illustrated in the publications. The actual obverse is the side with the double cornucopia, as the reverse is the one with the anchor.
** Another example struck by 2 reverse dies is known to me. It is a coin of Pontius Pilate offered in 2005 by Amphora (#497), with a simpulum on each side. The picture is not illustrated here but it is available upon request. No coins are known to me by 2 obverse dies.
Est. $400-500
A fascinating variety of the common prutah of Herod, struck by 2 reverse dies*. It is the 2nd example I have seen for Herod the Great. The other one, very spectacular, is the large denomination struck by the reverse dies R111-R119 (www.MenorahCoinProject.org)**. Striking a coin with 2 reverse dies was probably uneasy, so these coins were not struck by error, like the double strike or brockage are. I believe such coins are the result of a game, a kind of gamble or a challenge by the coin makers.
* This coin type is improperly illustrated in the publications. The actual obverse is the side with the double cornucopia, as the reverse is the one with the anchor.
** Another example struck by 2 reverse dies is known to me. It is a coin of Pontius Pilate offered in 2005 by Amphora (#497), with a simpulum on each side. The picture is not illustrated here but it is available upon request. No coins are known to me by 2 obverse dies.
Est. $400-500