JUDAEA, Herodians. Agrippa I, 37-43 CE. Hemiassarion (Bronze, 14 mm, 2.99 g, 12 h), Caesarea Paneas, RY 5 = 40/1. [ΑΓΡΙΠΠΑ ΥΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΑ] Diademed bust of Agrippa II right; to left, [LE]. Rev. [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΑ ΦΙΛΟΚΑΙΣΑΡ] Crossed cornucopiaes. Hendin 6273. Meshorer 119 (Tiberias). RPC I 4979. Very rare and of great interest. Porosity and corrosion spots, otherwise, good fine.



The extensive and fascinating coinage of Agrippa's brief reign was issued in a number of different mints, standards, types and styles. Particularly interesting is the series from the mint of Caesarea Paneas dated to his 5th regnal year, which shows the king, his wife, Kypros, and his son and heir, Agrippa II, as well as the Roman emperor Caligula, his wife, Caesonia, and his sister, Drusilla. Since Caesarea Paneas (formerly known as Caesarea Philippi) was largely inhabitated by non-Jews and quite far from Jerusalem, there was a tradition at this mint of depicting the ruler's potrait that dated back to the reign of Herod Philip, Agrippa's uncle. This would have been unthinkable in the Jewish heartland, as it was a blatant violation of the Mosaic Law against 'graven images'.