JUDAEA, Roman Governors. Coponius, 6-9 CE. Prutah (Bronze, 17 mm, 1.89 g, 12 h), in the name of Augustus. Jerusalem, RY 36 = 5/6 CE. KAICA-POC Grain ear curved to right. Rev. L - ΛϚ Palm tree with two bunches of dates. Bromberg -. Hendin 6357. Meshorer, AJC, Suppl. V, 1. RPC I 4954. Samel -. Sofaer 1-2. An attractive example of this earliest Roman prutah. Repatinated, otherwise, good very fine.



Coponius was appointed the first Roman prefect of Judaea in 6 CE, following the deposition of Herod Archelaos and the establishment of direct Roman rule. His tenure coincided with the census conducted under the Syrian governor Quirinius, which provoked the revolt of Judas the Galilean. Coponius inaugurated the Roman prefectural coinage of Judaea, issuing bronze prutot with locally familiar motifs such as an ear of grain and a palm tree, while avoiding imperial portraits.