John Hyrcanus I
Hasmonean (140 – 37 BC)
Biblical Reference: 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees
In 165 BC, Judas Maccabaeus started the revolt against the Seleucid overlords of Judea. After defeating them militarily, he entered Jerusalem in triumph and cleansed the Temple, re-establishing traditional Jewish worship there, and establishing Jewish independence for almost 100 years. The Jewish festival of Hanukkah celebrates the Maccabee victories during these events.
The Maccabee line was eventually broken with rivalry between two brothers Aristobulus II and Hyrcanus bringing about civil war, and in defeat in 37 BC by the Roman backed Herod the Great who became “king of the Jews”.
The coins of the period are all small bronze denominations, often showing the double cornocopia (horn of plenty), the lily, star or anchor.
| Hendin 451
Antiochus VII & Hyrcanus I AE Prutah. Struck as a transitional issue at the mint of Jerusalem, dated Year 182 = 132/131 BC. Obverse: BASILEWS ANTIOCOU EUEPGETOU, anchor, date APP below Reverse: Lily. |
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| Hendin 452
John Hyrcanus I AE Prutah. 135-104 BC. Obverse: Archaic Hebrew text within wreath: Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews Reverse: Double cornucopia adorned with ribbons and pomegranate between. AJC I Group K |
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| Hendin 453
John Hyrcanus I AE Prutah. 135-104 BC. Obverse: Archaic Hebrew text within wreath: Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews Reverse: Double cornucopia adorned with ribbons and pomegranate between. AJC I Group P |
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| Hendin 454
John Hyrcanus I AE Prutah. 135-104 BC. Obverse: Archaic Hebrew text within wreath: Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews; Greek letter “A” above the inscription Reverse: Double cornucopia adorned with ribbons and pomegranate between. AJC I Group M |
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| Hendin 455
John Hyrcanus I AE Prutah. 135-104 BC. Obverse: Archaic Hebrew text within wreath: Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews Reverse: Double cornucopia adorned with ribbons and pomegranate between. Monogram below AJC I Group N |
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| Hendin 456
John Hyrcanus I AE Prutah. 135-104 BC. Obverse: Archaic Hebrew text within wreath: Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews Reverse: Double cornucopia adorned with ribbons and pomegranate between. AJC I Group N |
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| Hendin 457
John Hyrcanus I AE Prutah. 135-104 BC. Obverse: Archaic Hebrew text within wreath: Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews Reverse: Double cornucopia adorned with ribbons and pomegranate between. AJC I Group N. |
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| Hendin 458
John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan) AE Lepton. 134-104 BC. Obverse: Palm branch flanked by four lines of archaic Hebrew (Yehohanan the High Priest and Council of the Jews) Reverse: Lily, monogram left AJC I Group O. |
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| Hendin 459
John Hyrcanus I, AE Prutah. 135-104 BC. Obverse: Archaic Hebrew text within wreath: Yehohanan the High Priest and Head of the Council of the Jews Reverse: Double cornucopia adorned with ribbons and pomegranate between AJC 1 Group S. |
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| Hendin 460
John Hyrcanus I AE Prutah. 135-104 BC. Obverse: Archaic Hebrew text within wreath: Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews Reverse: Double cornucopia adorned with ribbons and pomegranate between. Monogram “A” below AJC I Group S |
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| Hendin 461
John Hyrcanus I Æ Lepton. 135-104 BC. Obverse: Palm branch upright, flanked by Hebrew legend (Yehohanan the High Priest & Head of the Council of the Jews) Reverse: Lily. AJC I Group T. |
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| Hendin 462
John Hyrcanus I AE Prutah. 135-104 BC. Obverse: Archaic Hebrew text within wreath: Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews Reverse: Helmet with decorative crest facing right AJC I Group R |
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| Hendin 463
John Hyrcanus I AE Prutah. 135-104 BC. Obverse: Archaic Hebrew text within wreath: Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews Reverse: Double cornucopia adorned with ribbons and pomegranate between. AJC I Group L |
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| Hendin 464
John Hyrcanus I AE Prutah. 135-104 BC. Obverse: Archaic Hebrew text within wreath: Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews Reverse: Double cornucopia adorned with ribbons and pomegranate between. AJC I Group Q |