Notae Numismaticae - Zapiski Numizmatyczne (2.1997)

TOM II

NOTAE NUMISMATHAE
ZAPISKI MMIZMATYCZH

KRAKÓW 1997

JERZY CIECIELĄG
Pedagogical University
Cracow

SOME REMARKS ON THE COINAGE
OF HEROD PHILIP

In 1987, archaeological excavations were begun in Bethsaida, one of
the principal cities of Herod Philip’s tetrarchy. Up to now, about 76 coins
have been found, including two issued by that ruler. At first, they were
mistakenly attributed to the founder of the Idumaean dynasty.1 Eventual-
ly, they turned out to represent the most common coin type issued by
Philip.

On the obverse of this type there is a image of the emperor (Augustus
or Tiberius), while the reverse shows the facade of a temple. The place-
ment of a human image on coin in autonomous Jewish coinage was an
unprecedented event. We need to remember that Jewish law prohibited
making images of any living creatures, either human or animal.2 Any trans-

1 F. Strickert, The Coins of Philip, in: R. Arav and R. A. Freund, eds, Bethsaida. A City
by the North Shore of the Sea of Galilee, vol. 1, Kirksville, Missouri, 1995, p. 165

2 Exod. 20, 4; Y. Meshorer, Ancient Jewish Coinage, vols I—II, Dix Hills, New York, 1982,
II, p. 42

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