JUDAEA, Herodians. Agrippa II, with Titus and Domitian as Caesars, circa 50-100 CE. Medallion (Bronze, 33 mm, 35.13 g, 12 h), Caesarea Paneas, RY 26 of the first reign of Agrippa = 74/5. ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑ KAICAP•TITOC•KAICAP•ΔOMITIANOC Laureate and cuirassed bust of Titus to right, the cuirass decorated with gorgoneion, facing laureate and cuirassed bust of Domitanus to left with globe at point of bust, seen from behind. Rev. [BACIΛEΩ]C AΓPIΠΠA • ETOYC Kζ Pan, nude except for goat skin over his right shoulder, advancing slowly to left, holding syrinx in his right hand and lagobolon in his left; to right, entwined tree trunk. D. Hendin: A Medallion of Agrippa II, in: INR 4 (2009), pp. 57-61 = Hendin 1281 = RPC II 2272A (same obverse die). Meshorer -. Extremely rare, the second and by far the finest known example of this highly important inaugural issue of Agrippa’s new mint at Caesarea Paneas. A beautifully designed and impressive dynastic medallion with a lovely reddish patina. Somewhat rough and with very minor traces of corrosion, otherwise, very fine.


When Hendin published the first known specimen of this remarkable issue in 2009, he convincingly showed that Agrippa’s first era began not in 60/1 CE, as previously assumed, but already in 49 CE. The present piece from Agrippa’s 26th regnal year therefore dates to 74/5 CE, only a year after the fall of Masada. It represents the inaugural issue of Agrippa’s new mint at Caesarea Paneas, signaled by the ambitious design of the medallion, struck in fine style on an exceptionally thick and imposing flan. The reverse, with its elegant figure of Pan set before a luxuriantly entwined tree, unmistakably alludes to Caesarea Paneas (modern Banyas), famed since antiquity for its abundant springs, dense vegetation, and rich wildlife. The imagery is thus not only political but also deeply rooted in the natural character of the city.

The series continued the following year (RY 27 = 75/6 CE; RPC II 2284), though on smaller flans and with simpler busts lacking the rich drapery and cuirass seen here. In 2015 a second specimen of the RY 26 medallion appeared at Classical Numismatic Group 99 (13 May 2015, lot 500), but this is clearly a cast forgery: the details are blurred, and its weight of 19.79 g is far too low - even lighter than the flans of the later, reduced issue. Whether that forgery was based on a genuine but unpublished host coin remains uncertain. The crude reverse, in any case, suggests heavy tooling, whether on an original model or in the casting mould itself.

Our coin, by contrast, is not only the second known authentic example, but also by far the best preserved. It offers collectors, for the first time, the opportunity to acquire a specimen of Agrippa II’s highly important inaugural issue of Caesarea Paneas.