Ancient Lily of Jerusalem Coin Set in 14k Gold & Silver Jerusalem Cross Pendant

Total Weight: 8.2 Grams

Obverse: An inverted anchor, the well-known Seleucid dynastic symbol, with Greek inscription “Of King Antiochus, Benefactor” and date.

Reverse: A Lily Flower as a representation of Jerusalem

These are the first truly Jewish coins minted under the local rule of the Jewish Maccabean leader John Hyrcanus I. who is the nephew of the famous Judah Maccabee (the hero of the Hanukkah story) came to power as the Heigh Priest of Jerusalem in the year 134 BCE.

 Shortly after his rule began, Jerusalem was besieged by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus VII. Although he was unable to defeat Antiochus directly a peace accord was reached and tribute was paid to Antiochus thus saving countless lives. Despite being now essentially a vassal to the Seleucid king, Hyrcanus was able to mint his own coinage, the iconography of which should not be overlooked. While the obverse depicts a Seleucid anchor and a reference to Antiochus VII as benefactor it should be noted that no figurative images are found on his coins, something quite out of the ordinary for Seleucid coinage which normally depict an image of the king or a deity, but in keeping with Jewish custom. Additionally, the reverse depicts a lily which, according to Meshorer, “is based on the ornamentary use of this symbol in the Temple of Jerusalem.” The choice of this specific Jewish symbol is particularly ingenious as it would also be accepted by non-Jewish members of the population due to its Seleucid and Hellenistic precedents. Thus in this coin we see clearly a man who had great respect for his faith and his people while maintaining the the ability to understand the importance of diplomacy and pragmatism in his rule. It was this kind of leadership that led Josephus to comment about him “He was the only man to unite in his person three of the highest privileges: the supreme command of his nation, the high priesthood and the gift of prophesy.”