CHAPTER THREE

A TYPOLOGY OF HEROD’S COINS

The basic division within Herod’s coins is between however, will be helpful for the analysis to be car- the dated and undated coins. The appearance of the ried out in later chapters. date (Ò G = year three) and monogram ($) are the The typology is consequently quite different most obvious elements on the dated coins that from the numerous numismatic catalogues which intrinsically create this division. The absolute dat- list Herod’s coins, including the most current cata- ing of the dated coins is discussed in section 5.1 logue, TJC. In spite of the detail into which this below, and the monogram is discussed in section chapter goes, the end result (Tables 7–8) summa- 7.3 below. Other features that distinguish the two rizes the division of the coins into their essential groups are their weights, which are quite different, categories. As will be seen, such a refined typol- suggesting two different divisional systems, and ogy is wholly consistent with the results of the next the types, which slightly overlap between the two chapter’s die study, and should now supersede the groups (sections 3.1 and 3.2 below). All of these dif- standard numismatic categorization of the main ferences have brought many scholars to the conclu- types and variants. For the purposes of the icono- sion that the dated and undated groups of Herod’s graphic analysis (chapter 6) as well, the distillation coins were struck in two separate mints. That idea of the symbolic elements into their larger group- is discussed in chapter 5. Here we will consider the ings is indispensable. Consequently the new type coin-types generically, according to the basic divi- numbers (Types 1–17) are already introduced in sion between dated and undated coins. the following sections before the summary tables Most discussions of the types of Herod’s coins at the end of the chapter. have focused on the meanings proposed for the ico- nography on those coins. However, the main aim 3.1. Dated Coins of this chapter is to identify the types and create a basic typology of the coins. We have intentionally Types deferred discussing the meanings of the types and symbols until later (chapter 6). This section presents the coin-types of the Ò G coins, The typology, delineated at the end of this followed by their symbols and an examination of chapter (Tables 7–8), is based upon on the coins’ their denominations. TheÒ G coins bear seven types iconographic elements combined with their diam- (helmet, tripod, shield, fruit, winged caduceus, eters and weights, which suggest their denomi- aphlaston and palm branch) and two symbols (the nations. Essentially we regroup the coin variants secondary iconographic elements, palm branch listed separately in the extant catalogues into their and fillet, appearing alongside the main types). For seventeen larger type categories. Their order takes a discussion of the absolute date of these coins see into account the chronological conclusions derived section 5.1 below. from analysis of the hoards, site distribution, and archaeological contexts appearing in later chapters. Helmet (Types 1–2 [see below, Table 8]; TJC: Nos. In the next chapter, the coins’ other numismatic 44–45): What has been identified as a helmet feature—primarily their die details, but also the appears on the obverse1 of Type 1 (TJC: No. 44) degree of typological variation, their rarity, tech- nological aspects of their production and their chemical composition—will be evaluated. In the 1 Technologically the obverse has been defined as the side past variations between dies, and other details of struck from the lower, anvil die, and the reverse is that side struck from the upper, trussell die (Mørkholm 1991:15). the dies, have obfuscated the basic typological divi- When, as is often the case, it is not possible to distinguish the sions suggested in this chapter. These particulars, obverse and reverse dies, the convention has been that the 44 chapter three and reverse of Type 2 (TJC: No. 45). They are very as well as flamines and some other priests, is found different depictions, and will therefore be discussed on a number of republican denarii: (1) minted in separately within this section. Osca (Spain) in 39 (RRC:533, No. 532); (2) minted The obverse type of Type 1 was first identified by in Transalpine and Cisalpine Gaul in 43–42 and de Saulcy as a helmet or a ceremonial head-dress (de naming Antony (RRC:498, No. 489/2); and (3) from Saulcy 1854:127). Akerman (1846:135, Nos. 5–6), a mint traveling with Julius Caesar in 49–48 Madden (1903:107, No. 1), Hill (BMC Pal.: xcvii (RRC:461, No. 443/1). and 220) and Hunkin (1926:299) followed this Jacobson (1986:147–149) rejected Meshorer’s proposal, the latter two scholars persisting despite identification of the object on Type 1 as an apex, a suggestion (by Wiegand 1912) that the object claiming the apex “lacks the star that is such a was in fact a thymiaterion. In an article by Wirgin prominent feature of the design on Herod’s coin” (1960) dedicated to the coin, he viewed the type as (Jacobson 1986:146 n. 3). The apex itself is com- having two elements. Below, Wirgin saw a “head- posed of an oblong cap surmounted by a disc at dress in the shape of a flat cap, decorated with a the base of a fairly long vertical element, but that wide rim curving up at the end in volutes, and with element bears no similarity to the star-shaped ele- a ribbon, divided into small squares, from which ment on Type 1. hang two flaps” (Wirgin 1960:181).Above this, he Jacobson also proposed two elements in the com- saw a pileus (πῖλος or pilos Arkadikos, pilos Lakon- position of the type. Like Wirgin, he identified the ikos, pilos chalkous or konos; Lorber in prepara- upper element as the pileus of the Dioscuri. How- tion), a type of headgear modeled on the cap made ever, according to Jacobson the lower element was of flexible materials worn by the Dioscuri twins a couch (1986:148–149; 2007:95) with the pileus and other mythological figures. That idea follows straps draped behind and visible below it. Simi- Narkiss (1932:210). In Wirgin’s view, therefore, larly, the lower element was recently designated as there were two hats. The lower one was that which a ceremonial table (Marshak 2006:214; Schwentzel was worn by mortals, while the upper pileus could 2007:591). not be worn by mortals (Wirgin 1960:182). Jacobson is right that the Dioscuri are charac- Meshorer based his identifications of five of the terized by the stars surmounting either their heads seven symbols on the Ò G coins on the assumption or their pilei. The symbol appears in a number of that they imitate symbols appearing on Roman media. Jugate busts of the twins surmounted by stars republican coins struck between 44 and 40 (AJC appear on several sealings from Tel Kedesh dating 2:19). Consequently, perhaps following a comment to the first half of the second century bce (Herbert by Hill (BMC Pal.:xcvii), he identified the symbol and Ariel, in preparation). Pairs of Dioscuri pilei on Type 1 as an apex (AJC 2:19–20). The apex, a are found on the reverses of coins of Antiochus “ceremonial cap of the Roman augurs” (TJC:64), x (94 or 93 bce) minted in Antioch (SNG Israel 1:370, Nos. 2792–2795). Unprovenanced lead scale weights depicting two Dioscuri pilei as their central devices are probably Hellenistic and come from the obverse is defined as the side bearing the name of the mint- southern Levant (Decloedt 1914:549–551; Qedar ing authority. The upper (reverse) dies deteriorate, break and are replaced at a higher rate than lower (obverse) dies, and 1983:37, No. 5086 and p. 39, No. 5092). thus are more numerous. As a result of our research (following Closer in date, but geographically more dis- chapter), for Herod’s coins, in all but one type most of the dies tant, are two Roman republican coins bearing the have been identified. Therefore it is possible to distinguish the technological obverse from the technological reverse sides of Dioscuri twins wearing pilei surmounted by stars Herod’s coins by determining which side had fewer dies and (RRC:473, No. 463/1a, and p. 523, No. 515/1). The which had more. This information is given in Table 9. Simply earlier one is a denarius of Mn. Cordius Rufus, put, the obverse is the side with fewer dies. In the case of TJC: No. 59 (Type 15), for which die quantities are not available, minted in Rome in 46 bce (RRC:473, No. 463/1a). the anchor side is called the obverse, following TJC (and the This is the very coin-type that was found twice in fact that the anchor is on obverse on TJC: No. 65 [Type 17]). For coins other than Herod’s we have followed the published Judea, once in Qalandiya, and again in a hoard of obverse and reverse designations. the second century ce found in Wadi Murabaʿat