Judaea, Under Augustus — AE Prutah of the Prefects (c. AD 5–11)
Struck in Jerusalem under the authority of the Roman prefects Coponius or Marcus Ambibulus, during the reign of Augustus (27 BC – AD 14). These small bronze prutot mark the earliest period of direct Roman rule in Judaea following the deposition of Herod Archelaus in AD 6.
Obverse: Ear of barley, symbol of agricultural prosperity in the region.
Reverse: Palm tree branch (lulav) within wreath, or similar Judaean symbol, depending on die variety.
Size/Weight: Typically around 13–16 mm, ~2 g.
These prutot are historically important as they represent Rome’s earliest coinage issued in Judaea after it became a Roman province. Struck locally but under imperial oversight, they bear no portrait — a concession to Jewish religious sensitivities against graven images.
Well-centered and evenly patinated, this example provides an excellent link to both the Augustan age of Rome and the early years of Judaea as a Roman province, making it a desirable type for both Judaean and Roman provincial collections.
Judaea, Under Augustus — AE Prutah of the Prefects (c. AD 5–11)
Struck in Jerusalem under the authority of the Roman prefects Coponius or Marcus Ambibulus, during the reign of Augustus (27 BC – AD 14). These small bronze prutot mark the earliest period of direct Roman rule in Judaea following the deposition of Herod Archelaus in AD 6.
Obverse: Ear of barley, symbol of agricultural prosperity in the region.
Reverse: Palm tree branch (lulav) within wreath, or similar Judaean symbol, depending on die variety.
Size/Weight: Typically around 13–16 mm, ~2 g.
These prutot are historically important as they represent Rome’s earliest coinage issued in Judaea after it became a Roman province. Struck locally but under imperial oversight, they bear no portrait — a concession to Jewish religious sensitivities against graven images.
Well-centered and evenly patinated, this example provides an excellent link to both the Augustan age of Rome and the early years of Judaea as a Roman province, making it a desirable type for both Judaean and Roman provincial collections.
