The New York Sale
Auction 48 14 Jan 2020
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Judaea, Hasmonean Kingdom. Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan). Æ 1/2 Prutah (1.80 g), 103-76 BCE. Jerusalem. 'Yehonatan the King' (Paleo-Hebrew), upright palm branch, within circular beaded border. Reverse: Lily, within circular beaded border. Hendin 1147; TJC grp. O. The finest specimen in private hands. Superb Extremely Fine. Value $2,500 - UP
The palm branch and lily types of this rare issue of Alexander Jannaeus take their inspiration from an earlier coinage of his father, John Hyrcanus I, probably as a means of visually indicating his legitimacy. Legitimacy was a perennial problem for Jannaeus, who was constantly at violent odds with the Pharisees who challenged his right to be High Priest. When they pelted him with fruit at the Feast of Tabernacles he responded by crucifying hundreds of his political opponents. This led to a slow-burning civil war between Jannaeus and his subjects that dragged on for six years.
The palm branch and lily types of this rare issue of Alexander Jannaeus take their inspiration from an earlier coinage of his father, John Hyrcanus I, probably as a means of visually indicating his legitimacy. Legitimacy was a perennial problem for Jannaeus, who was constantly at violent odds with the Pharisees who challenged his right to be High Priest. When they pelted him with fruit at the Feast of Tabernacles he responded by crucifying hundreds of his political opponents. This led to a slow-burning civil war between Jannaeus and his subjects that dragged on for six years.