Rise to Power

Mattathias Antigonus was the son of Aristobulus II, one of the final rulers of the Hasmonean dynasty. During his youth, the kingdom became consumed by a bitter struggle between rival branches of the royal family.

The Roman general Pompey the Great intervened in 63 BC, capturing Jerusalem and bringing Judaea under Roman influence. Although Hasmonean rulers continued to hold positions of authority, their independence was increasingly limited by Roman power and local political rivals. One of the most influential figures to emerge during this period was Antipater the Idumaean, whose son would later become known as Herod the Great.

In 40 BC, the Parthian Empire invaded the Roman East. Seizing the opportunity, Antigonus allied himself with the Parthians and successfully captured Jerusalem. With Parthian military support, he restored Hasmonean rule and assumed both the kingship and high priesthood. For the first time in years, a Hasmonean ruler once again controlled Judaea, though his kingdom remained heavily dependent upon Parthian support.

Reign

Mattathias Antigonus ruled from 40 to 37 BC during one of the most turbulent periods in Near Eastern history. His reign was defined by war. Rome refused to accept the loss of Judaea and quickly backed Herod's claim to the throne. While Antigonus controlled Jerusalem and much of the surrounding region, Roman armies gradually returned to restore their influence.

The conflict culminated in the Siege of Jerusalem in 37 BC. Roman forces under the command of Gaius Sosius, working alongside Herod, surrounded and captured the city after fierce fighting. Antigonus surrendered and was taken prisoner.

Ancient sources agree that Mark Antony ordered his execution, an extraordinary fate for a captured king. The Roman historian Cassius Dio specifically records that Antigonus was beheaded, making him one of the few monarchs in antiquity known to have suffered such a punishment at Roman hands. His death marked the end of the Hasmonean dynasty and cleared the way for Herod the Great to establish a new royal house in Judaea.

Legacy

Mattathias Antigonus occupies a unique place in Jewish history. Although his kingdom was short-lived, he became the final representative of a dynasty that had ruled Judaea for nearly a century.

His defeat opened the door for Herod the Great, whose reign would transform Judaea through massive construction projects, including the expansion of the Second Temple. His reign marked the closing chapter of the Hasmonean age and the beginning of a new era shaped by Rome.

The Coinage of Mattathias Antigonus

The coinage of Mattathias Antigonus is among the most distinctive series in ancient Jewish numismatics. Unlike many contemporary rulers who placed their portraits on coins, Jewish traditions generally avoided human images on official coinage. Instead, Antigonus relied upon symbolic designs and inscriptions to communicate authority and legitimacy. Most surviving examples are small bronze prutot struck between 40 and 37 BC.

The Double Cornucopia Type

The most famous and common coin of Antigonus features a double cornucopia tied with ribbons. The cornucopia symbolized abundance, prosperity, and divine favor. Similar imagery had appeared on earlier Hasmonean coins, reinforcing Antigonus's connection to the dynasty's traditions. The accompanying Hebrew inscription is commonly translated as a statement of both religious and political legitimacy.

"Mattatayah the High Priest and the Council of the Jews."

The inscription is significant because rather than highlighting a royal title, it presents Antigonus as the high priest ruling with the support of the Jewish governing council.

The Wreath Type

Another well-known type features a wreath surrounding a Hebrew inscription. The wreath was a familiar symbol throughout the Hellenistic world and often represented victory, authority, and honor. Combined with the Hebrew legend, it reflected the unique blend of Jewish and Hellenistic influences present in late Hasmonean Judaea. These coins remain among the most recognizable issues of the period.

Hebrew and Greek Legends

Antigonus's coinage includes issues bearing Hebrew inscriptions as well as issues carrying Greek legends. This reflects the bilingual environment of first-century BC Judaea. Hebrew remained central to Jewish identity and religious life, while Greek served as the dominant language of trade and diplomacy across much of the eastern Mediterranean. The coexistence of both languages on his coinage illustrates a kingdom positioned between local traditions and the wider Hellenistic world.

Wartime Minting and Overstrikes

Many surviving coins of Antigonus were struck over earlier coins. During the turmoil of his brief reign, existing bronze coins were often recycled and restruck rather than melted down and completely remanufactured. Careful examination can sometimes reveal traces of earlier designs beneath the visible imagery.

These overstrikes provide an intriguing glimpse into the practical realities of minting coinage during a period of war and political uncertainty. Each one is a small record of a kingdom improvising under pressure, striking money even as Roman and Herodian armies closed in.

Collecting Coins of Mattathias Antigonus

Few rulers from ancient Judaea offer collectors such a direct connection to a pivotal historical moment. Most surviving coins are bronze prutot measuring roughly 13 to 17 millimeters in diameter. Despite being more than 2,000 years old, many examples remain relatively affordable compared with numerous biblical and Judaean coin types.

The double cornucopia type is by far the most common and is often the best choice for new collectors. Examples with clear Hebrew inscriptions, attractive surfaces, and strong strikes generally command premiums. Because Antigonus ruled for only three years, every coin was struck during an exceptionally narrow window of history. Each specimen circulated during the struggle between the Hasmoneans, the Parthians, Rome, and Herod the Great.

Why His Coins Matter Today

Mattathias Antigonus ruled for only a brief moment, but his reign marked one of the most important turning points in the history of Judaea. His coins were struck during the final years of Hasmonean rule, just before the rise of Herod the Great and the establishment of a kingdom closely tied to Rome. They represent the last chapter of a dynasty that traced its origins to the Maccabean Revolt and the fight for Jewish self-rule.

More than two thousand years later, these small bronze coins remain tangible reminders of the fall of the Hasmonean kingdom, the rise of Herod, and the dramatic transformation of Judaea on the eve of the Roman age.

History wasn't just written. It was minted.