Prutah - Herod the Great 27 BC
27 BC year| Bronze | 1.66 g | - |
| Issuer | Judea |
|---|---|
| King | Herod the Great (37 BC - 4 BC) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 27 BC |
| Value | 1 Prutah |
| Currency | Prutah (140 BC-95 AD) |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 1.66 g |
| Shape | Irregular |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-10 |
| Numista | N#90931 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
Reverse
Temple table standing on flat platform, with three carinated legs, loaf or other object on top, flanked by two palm branches.
Comment
Additional references: Hendin 490a/1178a, TJC 48, AJC II 236-8, Sear 5527, Brom. 25, SNG ANS 203.
Interesting fact
The Prutah coin featuring Herod the Great is notable for its unique design, which includes a portrait of Herod wearing a crown on one side and an inscription in Hebrew on the other side. The inscription reads "Herod the King" in Hebrew, which was a bold statement considering that Judea was not an independent kingdom at the time, but rather a client state of the Roman Empire. This coin design was a departure from the traditional Jewish practice of avoiding human images on coins, and it may have been a way for Herod to assert his authority and legitimacy as a ruler.
