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Numismatic Auction 67 20 Jun 2017
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Judaea, Herodian Kingdom. Agrippa I. 37-44 C.E. AE prutah (18.37 mm, 2.84 g, 12 h). Jerusalem mint, struck 41-42 C.E.. BACIΛEΩC AΓPIΠA, umbrella / Three ears of barley, flanked by L-ς. Hendin 1244; Meshorer TJC 120. aVF.
David Hendin wrote: This may have been the sole coin of Agrippa I that was struck for use in those of his territories largely populated by Jews. However, as early as 1980 Shraga Qedar suggested to me that this coin is in fact a coin of Agrippa II, not Agrippa I. Initially we rejected this theory but today believe it is possible. K. Lonnquist published an article in Liber Annus also supporting this theory. Qedar believes that this large issue was struck at the beginning of the Jewish War to counter the large number of small bronzes issued by the Jews at this time. Agrippa II was a full client of Rome and even though he was Jewish, represented Roman interests in the area. Lonnquist suggests that the Emperor granted him the permission for striking the coins in gratitude of his loyalty to Rome and for participating in the Jewish War. Lonnquist also asserts that this issue was struck over a period of many years, first because for the large number of coins in existence, and second because of the reality that a huge number of dies, minimum hundreds of paris or more used. Certainly Agrippa II issued a huge number of larger denomination coins throughout his reign. A second point in support of this theory is the spelling of AΓPIΠA with only one letter Π. All other coins of Agrippa I spell his name AΓPIΠΠA. However, there are coins of Agrippa II in which his name is spelled AΓPIΠA (see Hendin 591-2). Lonnquist further suggests that archaeological excavations indicate that this coin was more likely struck early in the Jewish War rather than some 25 years earlier. While there are no absolutes to this theory, it is certainly interesting enough to present here.
David Hendin wrote: This may have been the sole coin of Agrippa I that was struck for use in those of his territories largely populated by Jews. However, as early as 1980 Shraga Qedar suggested to me that this coin is in fact a coin of Agrippa II, not Agrippa I. Initially we rejected this theory but today believe it is possible. K. Lonnquist published an article in Liber Annus also supporting this theory. Qedar believes that this large issue was struck at the beginning of the Jewish War to counter the large number of small bronzes issued by the Jews at this time. Agrippa II was a full client of Rome and even though he was Jewish, represented Roman interests in the area. Lonnquist suggests that the Emperor granted him the permission for striking the coins in gratitude of his loyalty to Rome and for participating in the Jewish War. Lonnquist also asserts that this issue was struck over a period of many years, first because for the large number of coins in existence, and second because of the reality that a huge number of dies, minimum hundreds of paris or more used. Certainly Agrippa II issued a huge number of larger denomination coins throughout his reign. A second point in support of this theory is the spelling of AΓPIΠA with only one letter Π. All other coins of Agrippa I spell his name AΓPIΠΠA. However, there are coins of Agrippa II in which his name is spelled AΓPIΠA (see Hendin 591-2). Lonnquist further suggests that archaeological excavations indicate that this coin was more likely struck early in the Jewish War rather than some 25 years earlier. While there are no absolutes to this theory, it is certainly interesting enough to present here.