Herodian coinage
The dynasty was founded by Herod the Great who was the son of Antipater, a powerful official under the Hasmonean King Hyrcanus II.
Other objects depicted on coins of Herod include a winged caduceus and pomegranate ('rimmôn'), one of the seven species mentioned in the Bible as blessings to the Land of Israel, a plumed helmet and shield, a ship's stern and a palm branch.
The second largest denomination features a crested helmet and a shield, as well as the Greek letter Chi within a diadem and a tripod holding a ceremonial bowl.
[1] The most common prutah issued by Herod the Great is similar in design to that of the Hashmonean coinage, an anchor with Greek inscription "ΉΡωΔ ΒΆCΙ" (King Herod), and a caduceus between double cornucopiae,[2] which was meant as a continuation of the Hashmonean coinage as well as a continuation of the Hasmonean dynasty.
[3] The most common coins of Herod Archelaus are small prutot depicting a bunch of grapes, also one of the seven species, and a crested helmet with his name (Herod) and title (Ethnarch) in Greek (ΗΡΩΔ ΕΘΝ ), and a ship's prow and wreath with his name and title abbreviated.
The obverse has the Greek inscription "Herod the Tetrarch" (ΗΡΩΔΟΥ ΤΕΤΡΑΡΧΟΥ) with an upright palm branch.
Before coming to Rome to seek Gaius's favor, Antipas had his year 43 coin minted that honored the emperor.
Steinmann explains why Herod’s heirs antedated their reigns to the Jewish calendar year that began in Tishri of 6 BC in the following summary: Given the explicit statements of Josephus about the authority and honor Herod had granted his sons during the last years of his life, we can understand why all three of his successors decided to antedate their reigns to the time when they were granted a measure of royal authority while their father was still alive.
Although they were not officially recognized by Rome as ethnarch or tetrarchs until after Herod’s death, they nevertheless appear to have reckoned their reigns from 6t BC[17]Philip's year 37 coin has also proved to be important in settling a controversy regarding the length of his reign: Determining Philip's accession year from the texts of Josephus turns out to be problematic, largely due to textual questions in the relevant Josephan passages .
In light of these variables, it will be more convenient to use the numismatic data in determining the Philip's starting and ending dates.
In 66 AD he issued a prutah showing his own bust on the obverse with the Greek inscription 'ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΟΥ' (King Agrippa).
The coin's reverse depicts an anchor with the letters L and I on either side, giving the tenth year of the king's reign.
This large bronze coin was minted at Tiberias and shows a portrait of Titus on the obverse with the Greek inscription ' KAICAP CEBAC AVTOKP TITOC', while the reverse depicts the goddess Nike advancing right holding a wreath and palm branch over her shoulder, with a star in upper right field and the inscription 'ETO – KC BA ΑΓΡΙ-PPA'.
Although not a ruler of Judaea, Salome is included here because she was a granddaughter of Herod the Great and therefore was a member of the Herodian Dynasty.
