Jewish Shekels and other Goins of Ancient Judea. 445 



passages cited, and many other reasons, render the most 

 probable — is considered by Cavedoni to be the sacred vase 

 which was used to contain the wine prepared as an offering to 

 Jehovah, while the small pellets sometimes placed at each side 

 of the vase are fancifully supposed by some to represent 

 the loaves which were placed on the table of proposition. 

 Their small size, however, renders this interpretation open 

 to objection. The type which has long been considered as 

 " Aaron's rod " is considered by several eminent numismatists, 

 M.M. Longperier and De Saulcy among the number, to be 

 the same object as the triple flower represented in the hands 

 of the pontiffs on the bas-reliefs of Nineveh. If this be so, 

 and that symbol be accepted as a priestly badge or ensign, the 

 issue of these shekels under immediate priestly authority, in 

 a state governed by a pure theocracy, is further authenticated, 

 and their assignation to the priesthood of Yaddous appears 

 the more probable. Dr. Levy, however, a German numismatist, 

 has proposed to return to the old system, and reassigns the 

 coins in question to the epoch of the Maccabees. The style 

 of the workmanship of these coins, however, does not at all 

 accord with the already debased style of the neighbouring 

 Syriac coinage at that period, while it very closely resembles 

 that of the earlier Greek period of Alexander, and still more 

 closely that of the Persian satraps of Tarsus of the same epoch ; 

 rendering the theory of M. de Saulcy, on the whole, the most 

 probable in the present state of our knowledge. 



The copper pieces of the fourth year have as types, in 

 addition to the sacred vase, the loulab, or bunch of green 

 leaves that was carried in the right hand to the temple on the 

 festival of the Tabernacles, and also the cedar-cone which 

 was carried in the other hand.* The large pieces have also 

 a date-tree, with fruit, which was evidently a national symbol ; 

 that emblem, as well as the cedar-cone and the loulab, being 

 adopted by Barcocebas on the coins which he issued during the 

 last revolt in the reign of Hadrian, f 



In reply to the correspondent who wishes for illustrations of 

 the coinage of Herod, especially a piece bearing the eagle type, 

 suggesting that the appearance of the eagle on that coinage 

 has an interesting historical significance, my answer must be 

 want of space, both for that and several other matters of in- 

 terest omitted, with regret. I however disagree with my cor- 

 respondent as to the hind of interest which attaches to the coins 

 of Herod of the eagle type. He states, which I believe is also 

 the opinion of a very eminent numismatist, that the eagle was 

 placed by Herod on the coinage as a sort of defiance to the 



* See Leviticus xxxiii. 40. 

 t See the paper, " Jewish Shekels," in the December Number. 



