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Herod Antipas Coin

Herod Antipas (4 BCE - 39 CE). Mint of Tiberias. AE half denomination (19.8 mm, 8.79 gm, 1h). TIBE PIAC within wreath / HPWΔΟΥ TETPAPXOY; L KΔ (year 24=20/21 AD) in fields; reed upright. Hendin 1200. TJC 76. AJC II 242,2. RPC 4919. 

Herod Antipas struck his first coin as late as in his 24th regnal year (19/20 CE). It reads “of Herod the Tetrach” on the obverse side and “Tiberias” on the right and was issued to celebrate the foundation of his new city in honor of Emperor Tiberius. The floral plant on the right is a reed. While floral imagery previously had been by Hasmonean and Herodian rulers, Antipas was the first to use the reed. It has been interpreted as a sort of emblem of Herod Antipas, which in turn would provide a stinging background to the saying of Jesus: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? (Matt 11:7).

 

 

Herod-Antipas-coin

Relating to the dynasty established by Simon Maccabeus that ruled Israel independently from 140-37 B.C.E.

Of or relating to the reign of the family of Herod, which governed Palestine from 55 B.C.E. to the end of the first century C.E.

Matt 11:7

Jesus Praises John the Baptist
7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed sh ... View more

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