AUGUSTUS SILVER TETRADRACHM – ISSUE FROM YEAR AFTER HEROD DIED – VF NGC GRADED ROMAN PROVINCIAL COIN (Inv. 19305)

SOLD

19305. ROMAN EMPIRE. AUGUSTUS, 27 BC–AD 14. PROVINCIAL ISSUE OF ANTIOCH.
Silver Tetradrachm, 14.90 g, 27 mm. Issue of year 28 (Actian era) with consular date XII (4/3 BC).
Obv. KAIΣAPOΣ ΣEBAΣTOY, laureate head of Augustus right. Rev. ETOYΣ ΝΙΚΗΣ, Tyche seated right on rocky outcropping, holding palm, river god Orontes swimming to right, HK (Actian Era date = 26) above; in right field, IB (consular date = XII) above civic monogram (ANTIOXIEΩN?).
Prieur 52; RPC 4153; McAlee 182.
NGC graded VF, Strike 5/5, Surface 2/5.

Actian Era year 28, which probably ran from October 4 BC to September 3 BC, was a pivotal one for Roman Syria. Shortly before, in March 4 BC, Herod the Great of Judaea died in agony, leaving his kingdom to his sons. While Herod had been an important figure in maintaining the eastern Roman frontier, his murderous treatment of family members and the character of his sons caused Augustus to abolish the Herodian kingship and grant only the lesser titles of ethnarch and tetrarch to Herod’s heirs. The violent mismanagement by Herod Archelaus led to his removal as ethnarch and the creation of the Roman province of Judaea in AD 6. Direct Roman administration of Judaea was unwelcome and often abusive, ultimately leading to the outbreak of the Great Jewish Revolt in AD 66.