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Prutah - Alexander Jannaeus
| Issuer | Judea |
|---|---|
| Year | 104 BC - 76 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Prutah |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Eight-rayed star enclosed within a diadem or wreath border, with Paleo-Hebrew inscription occupying the fields between the rays. The legend reads 'Yehonatan the King' in the ancient Hebrew script, distributed around the central hub of the star. The design is characteristically crude in style, as typical of Hasmonean bronze coinage struck by hammering on irregular flans. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Hebrew |
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| Additional information |
Alexander Jannaeus ruled as both king and high priest of Judea, and his prutot were struck in enormous quantities throughout his nearly three-decade reign — which included aggressive military expansion across the Transjordan, coastal cities, and the Golan. The volume minted reflects a kingdom growing rapidly in territory and in need of a functional small-denomination bronze for daily commerce.
Jannaeus is also notable for being the Hasmonean ruler who introduced the practice of overstriking his own coins, producing bilingual issues that navigated the political tension between his Hellenized royal ambitions and his Jewish priestly role. Some specimens show clear evidence of overstruck earlier types beneath the surface.