Judaea, Six Unsearched bronze Prutah of Hasmonean Dynasty, 164-35 BC to Clean and ID - Coin in retailer Use at Time of Jesus

Offered are 6 very nice bronze Judaea prutah of the Hasmonean Dynasty from 164-35 BCE to clean and identify. The era of Hashmonean rule lasted for 103 years. It was founded by High Priest Simon son of Matityahu, and consolidated by his son Yochanan surnamed Hyrcanus. Thereafter followed Yehuda Aristobolus, Salome Alexandra, Alexander Yannai and then feuding brothers Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus. Hyrcanus and Aristoblulus each asked the Roman Republic to intervene on their behalf; as a result Judea fell under the greater rule of Rome as an autonomous province but still with a significant amount of independence. The last Hashmonean king was Aristobulus's son Matityahu Antigonus. In 138BCE the Seleucid King Antiochus VII Sidetes published a royal decree, granting Simon Maccabaeus the right to mint his retailer own coinage. John Hyrcanus (also known as Yochanan Hyrcanus) (reigned 134 – 104 BCE; died 104 BCE). Minted prutot that said:

Yehochanan the Kohen Gadol and council of the Jews (Sanhedrin)
Yehochanan the Kohen Gadol and the head of council of the Jews
Yehochanan the Kohen Gadol and the [council of] the Jews
'A' (May have stood for Antiochus VII) Yehochanan the Kohen Gadol and council of the Jews

He also had monograms on some prutot on the cornucopia side, just left of the cornucopia, some resembling Ά, Π or Λ. Alexander Jannaeus (104-76 BCE) with Seleucid anchor in circle, was also known as Jonathan the High Priest. Jannaeus served as both High Priest and King, much to the chagrin of the Sanhedrin which demanded separation of the two. He married Salome Alexandra, the widow of his brother Aristobulus, and thus Rabbi Shimon ben Shetach, the well-known scholar, became his brother-in-law. Jannaeus ruled with a mighty hand and expanded the borders of the kingdom. Archaeological evidence attests to his extensive reign throughout the country. He was one of the Maccabean Kings who struck the first Jewish Coins, mainly small bronzes. Antigonus the Hasmonean (also known as Matityahu Antigonus) was the son of King Aristobulus II of Judea.

Obv: Menorah with Greek inscription "BASILEWS ANTIGONOY" (King Antignus).
Rev: Showbread Table (Shulchan) with Hebrew inscription "Matityahu HaKohen" (Matityahu the High Priest).]]

Obv: Double cornucopia with ancient Hebrew script; reading "Matityahu Kohen Gadol Chever Hayehudim" (Matityahu the High Priest, Council of the Jews).
Rev: Greek inscription; reading "BASILEWS ANTIGONOY" (King Antignus). One of the more common of his coins depicts an eight-rayed star in a diadem and "King Jonathan" in ancient Hebrew script on one side and, on the other, an inverted anchor.

The tiny bronze coins in circulation at this time came to be known, in Christian tradition, as "Widow's Mites" and to symbolize charity. They were without portraits, in accordance with the second of the Ten Commandments which prohibits graven images. Will will receive the 6 coins pictured above. Like all my ancients this will come with a Certificate of Authenticity and lifetime money back guarantee, so buy with confidence!