Aristoboulos Marks the Conclusion of the Jewish War
516. KINGS of ARMENIA MINOR. Aristoboulos. AD 54-92. Æ (24mm, 14.14 g, 12h). Dated RY 17 (AD 70/1). [∫å45¬]EW4 år54to∫oU¬oU E[t 5Z], diademed head left; c/m: V within square incuse / t5tW> oUE4πå>45åW@W åU>to˚råtW>r 4E∫å4>t[W] in six lines within wreath. Kovacs 301; Meshorer 367a; Hendin 1258; Sofaer 172; RG 3; RPC II 1692; for c/m: Kovacs 24; Howgego pl. 33, 722.1. VF, green patina, gentle smoothing. Very rare. ($7500) 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.
Pedigreed to 1934
517. CYPRUS, Salamis. Evagoras II. Circa 361-351 BC. AV Twelfth Stater (8.5mm, 0.69 g, 1h). Draped bust of Aphrodite right, wearing turreted crown, earring, and necklace / Head of Athena left, wearing crested and wreathed Corinthian helmet; E¨Å to right. Markou, L’or 380 (D4/R1 – this coin, illustrated); Zapiti & Michaelidou 18; Tziambazis –; SNG Copenhagen 52 (same obv. die); Consul Weber 3949 (same obv. die). In NGC encapsulation, graded Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. Rare. ($5000) Ex Dr. Lawrence A. Adams Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 100, 7 October 2015), lot 106, purchased from Classical Numismatic Group, January 2004. Ex Numismatic Fine Arts IV (24 March 1977), lot 347; Russell Burrage Collection (Morgenthau, 10 October 1934), lot 230.
518. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator. As satrap, 321-315 BC. AV Stater (18.5mm, 8.61 g, 7h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Babylon I mint. Struck circa 311-300 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing single pendant earring, necklace, and triple-crested Corinthian helmet adorned with a griffin / ∫Ås5¬EWs ŬE$Å@droU, Nike standing left, holding wreath in extended right hand, cradling stylis in left arm; [Â]5 in left field, ü below left wing. SC 81.3 corr. (griffin, not sphinx); Price 3749 corr. (same); HGC 9, 3a; SNG Saroglos 169. Superb EF, a couple minor striking flaws on obverse, tiny edge bump. ($3000)
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