SYRIA, Coele-Syria. Chalcis ad Libanum. Herod, 41-48. AE (Bronze, 25 mm, 14.05 g, 1 h), struck in Caesarea Maritima, RY 3 = 43/4. [BAΣIΛEYΣ HPOΔ-HΣ ΦΙΛOKΛAYΔIOΣ] Diademed head of Herod to right. Rev. KΛAVΔI/Ω KAIΣA/PI ΣEBAΣ/TΩ ET Γ within olive wreath. Hendin 1252. Meshorer 362. RPC I 4778. Very rare. Nearly fine.


Herod, a son of Aristobulos IV and a grandson of Herod the Great, was made king of Chalcis ad Libanum in 41 AD by Claudius upon request of Herod Agrippa. He was the father of Aristobulos (see below, lots 501-502) and ruled in Chalcis until his death in 48 AD as a loyal supporter of his patron Claudius, to whom he refers both on the obverse and reverse of this coin.