Judaea, Hasmonean Kingdom. John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan). Æ Double Prutah (4.87 g), 134-104 BCE. Uncertain Samarian mint(?). 'Yehohanan the High Priest and Head of the Council of the Jews' (Paleo-Hebrew), double cornuacopiae adorned with ribbons, within circular beaded border. Reverse: Macedonian helmet with high crest and cheek guards right, within circular beaded border; in lower left field, monogram (off flan). Hendin 1136; TJC grp. H, pl. 18. Extremely Rare. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $5,000 - UP
The types of this rare coin depart dramatically from the usual iconographic repertoire of John Hyrcanus I. The parallel double cornucopiae is distinct from the splayed double cornucopiae of Hyrcanus' main coinage with its apparent associations with the priesthood of the Jerusalem Temple. Here the parallel cornucopiae and the Macedonian cavalry helmet may be derived from the roughly contemporary coinage of the Seleukid usurper, Alexander II Zabinas (128-122 BCE). Josephus ( AJ 33.9.3) tells us that Hyrcanus and Zabinas were on friendly terms, presumably because both had an interest in defending their claims to power against the legitimate kings of the Seleukid dynasty.