SYRIA, Coele-Syria. Chalcis ad Libanum. Herod, 41-48. AE (Bronze, 28 mm, 13.85 g, 12 h), Caesarea Maritima (?), RY 3 = 43/4. [BAΣIΛ HPΩΔ]HΣ BAΣIΛ AΓPIΠΠAΣ / [ΚΛ]ΑΥΔΙΟΣ ΚΑΙ/[ΣΑ]Ρ ΣΕΒΑΣ/[ΤΟΣ] Claudius, togate, standing front, head to left, between Herod of Chalcis, on the left, and Agrippa I of Judaea, on the right, each in military attire and crowning the emperor with a wreath. Rev. [KΛAYΔI]/Ω [KAIΣA]/PI [ΣEBAΣ]/TΩ [ET Γ] in four lines within laurel wreath. A. Burnett, The coinage of King Agrippa I of Judaea and a new coin of King Herod of Chalcis, Mélanges Bastien (1987), pl. 4, Ba. Hendin 1251. Meshorer 361. RPC I 4777. Of the highest rarity, apparently the fourth known example of this very important and historically interesting issue. Struck from somewhat worn dies and with very minor traces of corrosion, otherwise, good fine.



The dynamic obverse of this extremely rare coin depicts the brothers and supporters of the Roman emperor Claudius — the kings Herod of Chalcis and his brother, Herod Agrippa of Judaea — crowning him with wreaths. This scene not only expresses their strong support for Claudius, whom they had encouraged and advised when he first became emperor during the uncertain period following Caligula’s assassination, but also refers specifically to the treaties that Claudius had granted them. Suetonius mentions that these treaties were concluded in the Forum of Rome, where a pig — out of all animals! — was sacrificed while the formula of the fetial priests was recited (Suetonius, Claudius 25.5). The treaties established alliances and friendships with the two eastern kingdoms, confirming their rule under the protection of Rome.