Coin of Alexander Janneus

103–76 BCE

Two sides of an ancient coin: one side shows an anchor surrounded by a Greek inscription, and the other shows a small circle with eight rays radiating from it within a larger circle. Paleo-Hebrew letters are inscribed between the rays. — 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.

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Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.

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