Judaean Kingdom — Herod I the Great
Bronze Prutah
Reign: circa 40–4 BCE
Material: Bronze | Shape: Round | Diameter: ~14–15 mm
Obverse: Stylized anchor within dotted circular border.
Reverse: Double cornucopia with central dot, surrounded by beaded circle.
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Herod I, known to history as Herod the Great, ruled Judaea as a Roman client king during a critical period in Second Temple Jewish history. Backed by Rome after civil unrest in the region, Herod consolidated power with military and political precision. While he is infamous for his brutality, he was also a prolific builder — most notably expanding the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
This small bronze prutah served as everyday coinage for people across Herod’s kingdom. Its design reflects the delicate balance Herod struck between Roman allegiance and Jewish religious law. The obverse anchor — a legacy of Hellenistic symbolism — may represent naval strength or Roman connection. The reverse’s double cornucopia symbolizes prosperity and divine favor, common motifs in Greco-Roman visual language.
Importantly, Herod’s coins contain no human or animal imagery, conforming to Jewish aniconic tradition, which prohibited graven images. These prutot are among the most recognizable coins of the Herodian period and provide a direct material link to the economic and religious life of late 1st-century BCE Judaea.
Mintage
Date made
40 BCE - 4 BCE
Coin Details
Obverse
Description
anchor. rv crossed
Reverse
Description
cornucopias+caduceus
Currency
Prutah
Coin Grade
Grade
15 - Choice Fine
Grader
Numismatic Guaranty Company
Grading/Condition Notes
Certification #: 8213369-015
Grade: Ch F Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5
