Coin of Alexander Janneus

The obverse of this Alexander Janneus coin shows an anchor surrounded by a Greek inscription that reads “of King Alexander.” The reverse depicts an eight-pointed star wrapped within a diadem, with Paleo-Hebrew letters embedded in the space between the star’s rays. The letters read “Yehonatan, the king” (Yehonatan is Alexander’s name in Hebrew). The images represent the fusion or reinterpretation of Greek symbols. The anchor, for example, was likely appropriated to highlight and celebrate Alexander Janneus’ conquest of the coastal cities. The eight-pointed star incorporated the Jewish symbol of kingship (the star) with the Greek one (the diadem or royal headband). Alexander Janneus was the first Hasmonean to strike bilingual coins—Hebrew and Greek—and to use the title king in this medium.