Auction #37: Worldwide Stamps, Postal History, Worldwide Coins & Worldwide Banknotes
This auction features Worldwide Postal History Especially Holyland Foreruners Postcards And Covers, Large Collection Of Gold Coins From All Over The World. And Huge Amount Of Banknotes. Other Interesting Items Included As Well.
A. PLAUTIUS AR DENARIUS, "BACCHIVS IVDAEVS" - FIRST JUDAEA CAPTA COIN, 55 B.C.E.
Sydenham 932. Crawford 431/1, RSC Plautia 13, Hendin 1443, 18.3mm, 3.89 grams
Obverse: Turreted head of Cybele right, surrounded by inscription
Reverse: Bacchius presumed to be Aristobulus kneels right, camel at side, extending olive branch, IVDAEVS on right, BACCHIVS in exergue.
Bacchius is unknown to history as the name of the ruler but scholars explain the meaning of the coin as a Roman Judaea submission type, and the first one at that. As the coin was struck at the time of the defeat of Aristobulus AND includes the caption IVDAEVS it evidently refers to the submission of Aristobulus the High Priest to Pompey. There is also a similar denarius (although much more common) of the ally of Aristobulus depicting him in submission as well and clearly naming him ARETAS, thus making this attribution for Aristobulus pretty airtight. See Hendin's GBC page 404.