| Issued By: | Uncertain Persian King of Achaemenid Empire. |
| Date: | ca. 350-340 BCE |
| Mint: | Yehud Medinata Province, (Jersualem area). |
| Denomination: | Silver one-half Gerah (AKA: one-half Ma’ah). |
| Obverse: | Lily flower with three petals. |
| Reverse: | Falcon, wings spread, head right; Aramaic ‘YHD’ in right field. |
| Weight: | .409 gr. |
| Diameter: | 7.7 x 7.4 mm. |
| Attribution: | Hendin 1060. Meshorer TJC 2, 15. HGC 10, 442. Fontanille YHD-15 O1/R2. |
In multiple ways this coin type is closely related to this collection’s coin titled, “Yehud (YHD) king’s head silver Half-Gerah (Half-Ma’ah)”. Both are silver coins that were produced, circulated, and have been found primarily within what was the Persian province of Yehud, in the Satrapy mentioned in Scripture as ‘Abar-Nahara or ‘Beyond the River’, (AKA: Yehud Medinata). Further, both depict a falcon on the reverse, include the three letter ‘YHD’ abbreviation of Yehud, have a surmised issuance date of circa. 350-340 BCE, and struck at the same mint in the Jerusalem vicinity.
However, differences exist as well. On this coin the ‘YHD’ name appears in normally expected positioning (rather than retrograde formation), and there are no obvious die breaks revealed on this coin. A further difference, not apparent from physical observation, is that this type is scarcer than the Yehud king’s head type. However, by far the most notable difference is the appearance of a three-petal lily flower rather than a king’s head.
The lily flower is significant. It is widely considered a symbol directly representative of Jerusalem. Much has been written on the subject of its significance, and on the subject of its connection to King David, King Solomon, and the First Temple. See 1. Kings 7:19-26 for ways in which the lily was incorporated into the architecture of the First Temple. Further, the “lily had special significance for the Jews because according to the prophecy Hosea, God said, ‘I will be like the dew to Israel, he shall blossom like the lily’, (Hosea 14:5a)…”.1 There is even a fascinating connection between the lily and the Star of David itself! 2
The lily was a prominent symbol in Jewish art from Persian control through the Hasmonean era 3 and into the Roman period – all of which is evident from ancient coinage of these periods. In this vein, this coin type is the lily’s first numismatic appearance in relation to this geographical area; later appearances can be seen on coinage struck in Jerusalem on a Valerius Gratus prutah type, a Hyrcanus I prutah type, and an Alexander Jannaeus prutah type.
That the lily was so prominently displayed on this YHD coin implies a degree of autonomous control was allowed to local Jewish leaders by the Persians during this period. To this point, Yehoshua Zlotnik (author of many excellent articles and papers re: ancient history and numismatics), classifies Yehud as being in a stage of “Independence” and “Autonomy” during the time this Lily/Falcon coin type was issued.4
Meshorer classified this type as being a hemiobol (half-obol), Hoover termed it as a gerah, while Hendin chose to identify it as a half-gerah. All things considered Hendin’s term is most accurate and appropriate.
This particular example was quite well struck, and possibly with fresh dies. Although it is somewhat off-center, it is unequivocally nicer in detail and preservation than most examples. The lily is complete and distinct, a fact which alone would rate the quality of this example high. The off-center strike caused the loss of half of one wing, but detail of feathers can be sing in the remaining wing portion as well as the complete other wing. A more important consequence of the off-centeredness is that it provided ample room on the flan to receive the ‘YHD’ which is most often only partially on the flan. This example’s ‘YHD’ is both complete and distinctly readable. Despite a few spots of corrosion, it is of excellent metal for the type, (as noted by its CNG auction listing).
A postage stamp (“Cyrus Cylinder”) was issued by Israel in 2015 which includes an image of this exact coin type:
A modern Israel one-shekel coin’s design was clearly and intentionally patterned on this ancient coin type – including the lily and the ‘YHD’ inscription:
ENDNOTES:
1 The Pocket Guide to Saint Paul: Coins Encountered buy the Apostle on His Travels, by Peer Lewis and Ron Bolden, page 13.
2 For information re: connection between the lily and Star of David: http://star-of-david.blogspot.com/
3 A Treasury of Jewish Coins: From the Persian Period to Bar Kochba, Ya’akov Meshorer, page 9.
4 Yehoshua Zlotnik, in “Coin Minting in Eretz during the Persian period – does it reflect various political situations?”, pg. 19.
