JUDAEA, Herodians. Herod III Antipas, with Gaius (Caligula), 4 BCE-39 CE. Unit (Bronze, 23 mm, 12.60 g, 12 h), Tiberias, RY 43 = 39/40 CE. ΓAIΩ / KAICAP/ ΓEP[MA/NIK] within wreath. Rev. [ΗΡ]ΩΔΗϹ [ΤΕΤΡΑΡΧΗϹ] Palm tree; ETO/C - MΓ (date) across field. Bromberg I 34. Hendin 6246. Meshorer, AJC, 17. RPC I 4934. Samel 2119. Shoshana I 20119. Sofaer 110. Rare. Areas of weakness and somewhat rough, otherwise, about very fine.



This coin, dated to regnal year 43 (39/40 CE), is the largest denomination in Antipas’ final issue and bears a dedication to Gaius Caesar Germanicus, the Roman emperor better known as Caligula (37–41 CE). During this same regnal year, Antipas and his wife Herodias approached Caligula at Baiae to seek the royal title, but her brother Agrippa I countered by accusing the tetrarch of conspiring against Rome and maintaining a vast stockpile of arms. Gaius consequently stripped Antipas of his tetrarchy and property, transferred them to Agrippa, and condemned him to perpetual exile (Josephus, Ant. 18.240–255; B.J. 2.181–183). He was exiled to the western provinces, probably to Lugdunum Convenarum in southwestern Gaul, although Josephus’ accounts are contradictory. The emperor honoured on this coin was thus also the ruler who, shortly afterwards, brought Antipas’ long reign to an abrupt end.