A bronze Prutah Coin of King Herod Agrippa I | Minted during the Reign of Herod Agrippa I (37-44 CE) | From Jerusalem Mint; Year 6 (42 CE) | Obverse: Royal canopy with fringes and inscription of Agrippa the King | Reverse: Three ears of barley between two leaves with Lς (Year 6) in field.

Condition Report: In very fine condition

Includes a Certificate of Authenticity

Dimensions: Weight: 2.34 g; Diameter: 16.5 mm

References: Hendin, 1244; Meshorer, 120

Date: 42 AD

Agrippa I also called the Great (11 BCE – 44 CE), King of the Jews, was the grandson of Herod the Great, and son of Aristobulus IV and Berenice. His original name was Marcus Julius Agrippa, and he is the king named Herod in the Bible’s Book of Acts (the Acts of the Apostles) – “Herod (Agrippa)”. He was, according to the great ancient historian Josephus, known in his time as “Agrippa the Great”.

History: In 37 CE, Rome gave the lands of Herod Philip II to Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great and Miriam (of the Hasmonean line). When Herod Antipas was banished two years later, his territory also was assigned to Agrippa. By 41 CE, Agrippa I – descendent of both the Maccabees and Herod the Great – became the sold ruler of Judaea.

Bible: It is Agrippa I who is referred to in the Mishnah (Jewish Oral Law): When celebrating the Festival of the First Fruits “even King Agrippa carried the baskets (of fruit) on his shoulder” (Bik. 3:4). It was also Herod Agrippa I who “stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And … he proceeded further to take Peter also”” (Acts 12:1-3).

The primary coin of Agrippa was also the only coin issued for circulation in his Jewish territories. This bronze prutah shows a royal umbrella on the obverse surrounded by the Greek inscription “King Agrippa;” the reverse features three ears of barley and the date “LS” (Year 6 = 42/43 CE).

Herodian coinage are coins minted and issued by the Herodian Dynasty, Jews of Idumean descent who ruled the province of Judaea between 37 BC–92 AD. The dynasty was founded by Herod the Great who was the son of Antipater, a powerful official under the Hasmonean King Hyrcanus II.

Agrippa I was the son of Aristobulus and Berenice, and was a grandson of Herod the Great. Agrippa spent much of his boyhood at the Imperial court in Rome. His friend, the Emperor Caligula, granted him the former territories of his uncles Herod Philip II and Herod Antipas. The Emperor Claudius later also added Judaea. The prutah issued by Agrippa I shows a royal fringed umbrella-like canopy on the obverse, with the inscription ‘ΆΓΡΙΠΆ BACIΛEWC’ (‘King Agrippa’) in Greek, while the reverse shows three ears of barley between two leaves with the year. All the other coins of Herod Agrippa I contain graven images, with portraits of the Emperor or even of Agrippa himself.