Aristoboulos Marks the Conclusion of the Jewish War
368. KINGS of ARMENIA MINOR. Aristoboulos. AD 54-92. Æ (26.5mm, 16.32 g, 11h). Dated RY 17 (AD 70/1). ∫å45¬EW4 å[r54to∫oU]¬oU Et 5Z, diademed head left; c/m: V within square incuse / t5tW> oUE4∏å>45å@W åU>to˚råt>r 4E∫å4>tW] in six lines within wreath. For coin: Kovacs 301; Meshorer 367a; Hendin 1258; Sofaer 172; RG 3; RPC II 1692. For c/m: Kovacs 24; Howgego pl. 33, 722.1. Earthen green-brown patina. VF. Very rare, particularly with full legends visible, even though weak in some spots. ($5000) Aristoboulos was the son of Herod of Chalkis and the great-grandson of Herod the Great. Josephus serves as our only literary source for the reign of Aristoboulos, informing us that he was appointed king of Armenia Minor by Nero in AD 54 (Ant. XX.158). He married Salome (daughter of Herod II and widow of Philip the Tetrarch), who has traditionally been identified as the young woman who demanded the head of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1–12; Mark 6:14–29). Aristoboulos’ long reign would suggest he was a loyal client of Rome, as does the evidence we can glean from his coinage. Interestingly, coins of Aristoboulos were only struck for regnal years 13 and 17 (AD 66/7 and AD 70/1), which coincide with the outbreak and conclusion of the Jewish War. This seems to indicate that Aristoboulos’ coins were issued in the context of the revolt as a way for the Herodian ruler to reaffirm his faithfulness to Rome. Although Vespasian was emperor at the time this coin was issued, the reverse refers to Titus, who successfully suppressed the revolt in Judaea.
369. KINGS of ARMENIA. Tigranes II ‘the Great’. 95-56 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30mm, 15.11 g, 12h). Tigranocerta mint. Struck circa 80-68 BC. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing tiara decorated with star between two eagles / Tyche of Antioch seated right on rock, holding laurel branch; below, river-god Orontes swimming right; · on rock; all within wreath. SCADA Group 7, dies A59/P79 (Antioch mint); Kovacs 75.3; M&D 4; CAA 21; AC 33. Toned, some porosity, a little off center on reverse. Near EF. ($1500)
370. KINGS of OSRHOENE (EDESSA). Wa’el. AD 163-165. Æ (22mm, 7.59 g, 5h). Draped bust left within wreath / Distyle temple with star in pediment; within, cubical (cult?) object set on base with curved legs; all seen in three-quarters left perspective. SNG Copenhagen –; BMC 3; CNG E-229, lot 244 (hammer $850). Earthen black patina, slightly off center. Good VF. Exceptional for issue, much better than the CNG E-229 coin. ($500) Edessa was a small independent kingdom in an unenviable position between the feuding Roman and Parthian empires. It was ruled by the Abgarids, an Arab dynasty that is thought to have originated in the area of Nabataea. Founded by Aryu in 132 BC, this dynasty ruled Edessa until the 3rd century AD; it was incorporated into the Roman Empire by Caracalla in AD 214, and the final two kings were mere figureheads that ruled at the will of the Romans. The dynasty came to an end circa AD 242. Wa’el was appointed to the throne by the Parthian Vologases IV, who had deposed the legitimate king Ma’nu VIII. Wa’el’s reign lasted a brief two years before he himself was deposed by the Romans.
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