Silver stater of Aegina Greek island 485-480 BC Obv: sea turtle with
mostly smooth shell Rev: incuse divided into 5 sections EF far
superior to most encountered. ............................................... $1700.
Greek island of Thasos 463-411 BC silver drachm Obv: satyr abducting
a nymph Rev: square punch. Reduced to VF $197. Fine+ .... $147.
Syracuse, Greek colony on the island of Sicily 485-478 BC Obv: head
of Arethusa, dolphins swimming around Rev: slow chariot, Nike
flying above VF....................................................................... $770.
Syracuse, time of Agathokles 317-289 BC electrum (pale gold)
50 litrai Obv: laureate head of Apollo with long hair Rev: tripod
charcoal brazier VF $775. EF $977. electrum 25 litrai same designs
Fine ........................................................................................ $477.
GREEK NYMPH
Silver tetrobols of Histiaia, on the Greek island of Euboia, struck 340-
170 BC. Obv: Elegant head of the nymph Histiaia, hair rolled up and
wreathed. Rev: the nymph Histiaia seated on the stern of a Greek
galley, holding a naval standard. superb abt. Unc. $177. EF or better
$97. VF $57. F........................................................................
$27.
Silver tetradrachm of Philip II of Macedon 356-336 BC father of
Alexander the Great. Obv: laureate head of Zeus Rev: naked youth
riding bareback, holding palm branch. Struck 342-328 BC Reduced
to ............................................................................................ $677.
Silver tetradrachm lifetime of Alexander the Great 332-323 BC
Previously assigned to Alexandria now attributed to the Memphis
Egypt mint Obv: Hercules Rev: Zeus, rose in field. Ex: NFA 3/88 at
$1350. EF+ now $1977. One of the most desirable of Alexander's
coinages!
Gold distater of Alexander the Great 336-323 BC Obv: helmeted head
of Athena Rev: Nike standing, holding wreath and mast of galley.
Largest gold denomination of Alex. Perfect EF, going back up in
price since small hoard has been absorbed. .........................$10,777.
PORTRAIT OF ALEXANDER
Gold stater of Lysimachos, king of Thrace, 297-281 BC. Lysimachos
was a trusted friend, advisor and treasurer of Alexander the Great.
His coinages show the finest style depictions of Alexander's face
and are important because they were struck by people who
actually knew him. Obv: diademed head of Alexander wearing the
horn of Ammon to show his divinity. Rev: seated Athena leaning on
shield, holding Nike. ICG AU 58 fine style $3700. raw pleasing
EF/VF ..................................................................................... $1700.
Gold octodrachm of Ptolemy 2nd of Egypt 285-246 BC Obv: busts of
Ptolemy II with his wife Arsinoe II Rev: busts of his father Ptolemy I
with his wife Berenike I. EF or better, very pleasing .............. $9700.
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J. Kern 859-269-1614
MANY NEW ANCIENT PURCHASES
(AND MANY REDUCED PRICES)
THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER
Silver shekels of Tyre 126 BC to 55 AD Obv: Melquarth, the Phoenecian version of Hercules Rev: Eagle on prow of ship, Hercules' club to
left. These are certified and holdered by Global in a full color slab complete with the Biblical references of the betrayal of Christ by Judas
for 30 pieces of silver. A new hoard has greatly eased the shortage of these highly desirable artifacts of early Christianity. Grades are my
opinion. Uncertified or nonholdered also available. VG $277. bold Fine $377. bold Very Fine......................................................
$477.
TEMPLE DUES
Silver half shekels of Tyre 126 BC to 55 AD. Designs exactly as the full shekels. The half shekel was the amount of dues payable by every
male Jew to the temple in Jerusalem every year. The halves are much rarer than the full shekels, which is the best indication that the
Temple treasury stored the larger more convenient bullion like full shekels. Global slabs depict the Temple and relate the history of this
denomination. Grades are my opinion. VG $277. bold Fine $377. bold VF $477. EF ..................................................................... $877.
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Kern w1057795 05/19/2003 9:22 AM Page a
Gold octodrachm of Ptolemy 4th 221-204 BC Obv: bust of Ptolemy 4th
wearing radiate crown and aegis, trident over his shoulder. Rev:
radiate cornucopiae Pleasing EF ...........................................$10,700.
Byblos, in Phoenecia, was the major papyrus center. The word Bible is
derived directly from Byblos, since all the early scriptures were
written on papyrus scrolls. Silver 1/8 shekels, c. 333 BC. Under king
Adramelek. Obv: Phoenecian galley carrying armored Greek
mercenaries, sea serpent (hippocampus) beneath. Rev: lion
attacking a bull. Raw or ICG slabs: AU55 $137. AU 50 $117. EF45
$77. EF 40 $67. VF 35 $57. VF 30.........................................
$47.
Silver tetradrachm of Antiochus 4th of the Seleucid Empire 175-164
BC Antiochus attempted to Hellenize the Jews, and looted the
temple in Jerusalem. Obv: his diademed head Rev: Zeus enthroned,
holding Nike abt unc .............................................................. $1700.
WIDOW'S MITE
Bronze prutah of Alexander Jannaeus, c. 78 BC, king of Judaea. The
Widow's Mite could have been any small low value coin circulating
during the life of Christ. This issue is one of the most commonly
encountered. ICG VF30 .........................................................
$37.
DESTROYER OF JERUSALEM
Gold aureus of Titus 79-81 AD, struck 77-78 AD, while as Caesar.
When his father Vespasian returned to claim the throne in Rome
Titus was delegated the task of capturing Jerusalem. The arch of
Titus still standing in Rome depicts the victory parade displaying the
golden menorah looted from the temple. Obv: laureate bust of Titus
Rev: Roma seated on shield, holding spear, two birds flying, she
wolf suckling the twins at her feet. Raw pleasing VF+ ........... $2977.
Silver denarius of the Roman emperor Hadrian 117-138 AD Obv:
laureate bust of Hadrian Rev: Roma Felix enthroned, holding olive
branch and scepter. ANACS MS 62 razor sharp, near white.
Reduced from 677 to ............................................................. $477.
ANCIENT SHIPWRECK GOLD
Gold aureus of the emperor Aurelian 270-275 AD recovered from the
most important ancient treasure shipwreck ever found. In 1877,
1950 and 1986 groups of Roman gold coins were found on the
coast of Corsica, mostly of this emperor. The galley probably sank
271 to 275 AD. All show some signs of sea water, sand, and wave
action on the surfaces. Obv: laureate and armored bust of Aurelian
Rev: Victory advancine, holding wreath and trophy, bound captive at
her feet. Certified and holdered by ANACS: EF 40 CORSICA
SHIPWRECK ......................................................................... $3700.
Gold solidus of Maurice Tiberius 582-602 AD. Obv: crowned and
armored facing bust of Maurice holding globus cruciger Rev:
standing angel holding long cross and globus cruciger. This unusual
solidus reads: Tiber Mauric and catalogs for $1500. in EF in the
1987 book. Reduced from 1775. to $775. for this beautiful but
specialized coin.
Gold solidus of Tiberius III 698-705 AD Obv: crowned and armored
bust of Tiberius 3rd holding spear and shield Rev: True Cross EF+
broad flan ............................................................................... $977.
Gold dinar of al-Mansur 754-775 AD caliph of the Abbasid Dynasty
and founder of the modern site of Baghdad. Obv & rev: Arabic
inscriptions praising Allah, with name of al-Mansur and year 156
AH=773/4 AD. Raw abt unc faint scr...................................... $177.
ICG MS 61 $477. AU 58 $277. AU 50 ................................... $217.
AFFORDABLE CHARLEMAGNE
Gold tremmissis of Grimoald III of Beneventum, duchy in Lombardy,
Italy, ruling jointly with Charlemagne 788-792 AD Obv: crowned and
robed bust of Grimoald 3rd holding globus cruciger Rev: cross with
legend reading Lord Charles King pleasing EF ..................... $1077.
GENGHIS KHAN GOLD
Gold dinar of the great conqueror Genghis Khan struck 618 AH or
1221/22 AD at the Ghazna mint in modern Afghanistan. When
Genghis took Ghazna he massacred all except skilled metalworkers.
Perhaps this gold issue was struck by the guild of goldsmiths to
show gratitude for their lives. Gold of Genghis was unknown before
this hoard of 59 coins entered the market during the Taliban regime.
VF, weakly struck, faint scrs. .................................................. $1977.
BIRTHPLACE OF COLUMBUS
Gold genovino of Simone Boccanegro, ruler of Genoa 1339-1363 Obv:
main city gate of Genoa surrounded by floral design Rev: cross
surrounded by floral designs. EF ........................................... $877.
Gold noble of Edward III of England 1327-1377 pre-treaty title with
claim to France 1356-61 Obv: Edward holding shield and sword
riding the waves in a ship Rev: very ornate cross surrounded by
crowns and elements of coat of arms. EF, not fully stuck up. $1377.
Gold franc a pied of Charles V of France 1363-1380. Obv: Charles
enthroned in high Gothic style arch surrounded by fields of fleur de
lis Rev: very ornate Gothic cross. Abt unc a few areas of shallow
strike....................................................................................... $677.
Gold noble of Henry V of England 1413-22 Obv: Henry holding shield
and sword, riding the waves in a boat Rev: extremely ornate cross
interspersed with elements of his coat of arms. Abt unc ....... $2700.
MAIL ORDER POLICIES
AUTHENTICITY & SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.
1. All coins guaranteed as described. ANA and common
sense grading. Your satisfaction guaranteed!
2. Fourteen day return privilege or approval service can
be arranged with proper references.
3. Personal checks of unknown customers must clear.
References may be required. VISA, MasterCard &
American Express accepted.
4. Kentucky residents add 6% sales tax.
5. All coins sent insured or registered! Orders less than
$200 please add $4.00 for postage and handling.
6. Most coins are one-of-a-kind. Second choices
appreciated.
7. Office walk-in sales by appointment only.
441 S. Ashland Ave., Lexington, Kentucky 40502
To order, call
859-269-1614
between 9 AM & 5 PM EST
(Visits by appointment)
Professional Numismatist · Bachelor of Arts in Numismatics
24-hour FAX only: 859-266-7900
email: JKernCoins@aol.com or jon@jkerncoins.com
JONATHAN K. KERN
ANA
Life Member
11 PRUTOT
SURCHARGE OF THE
MONEYCHANGERS
Recent research has uncovered an ancient
moneychanger's surcharge of 11 prutot on
transactions involving the temple dues. Jews from
other regions needed to exchange their coins into
Tyrian silver and were charged a fee. Even if two
men paid their temple dues together with a full
shekel they were charged 11 prutot extra. These
commercial activity infuriated Jesus and provoked
his outburst of anger towards the moneychangers in
the temple confines. A full shekel was worth 256 of
these prutot. A group of 11 prutot 103 BC to 70 AD,
mostly fair to fine: ..........................................
$77.
MANY NEW ANCIENT PURCHASES
(CONTINUED)
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