Roman Lepton Coin

Inv. No.: c066
Date: c. A.D. 42-43.
Weight: 1.68g
 
Obv.: Umbrella with fringe.

Rev.: Three ears on barley springing from between two leaves. (“year 6”)

Herod, client king of Judaea (A.D. 37-44), respected his subjects’ sensibilities by avoiding human and animal figures on his coins – in Judaea. In Caesarea he struck them with his own portrait!

He was the first Jewish ruler to use only Greek letters in his coin legends. The legend on the obverse, “King Agrippa”, suggests pride in his position. Despite his Hellenistic leanings, self-indulgence and extravagance, the Jews revered his memory. He seems to have been basically true to Judaism and his people. He remonstrated with Gaius over the latter’s proposal to put his statue in the temple.

For L = “year”, see on coin c048.

Comparanda:
AJC 59.