Maccabean Judaea AE Prutah (Hasmonean Dynasty | Second Temple Period) NGC

Own a certified bronze Prutah from the Maccabean (Hasmonean) dynasty, struck during the Second Temple Period, and authenticated by NGC. This coin captures the spirit of one of the most heroic and meaningful moments in Jewish history.

In 167 BCE, Judah the Maccabee ("Maqqaba" in Aramaic) led a daring rebellion against the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who had desecrated the Jewish Temple and slaughtered thousands by invading Jerusalem on the Sabbath. After fierce battles, Judah and his followers liberated the Temple, removed pagan idols, and rededicated the altar on the twenty-fifth of Kislev, 165 BCE.

According to tradition, although there was only enough oil to keep the Menorah burning for one day, it miraculously lasted eight days — a divine sign of protection and endurance. This event gave rise to the Jewish holiday of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, celebrated to this day.

The Maccabean victory marked the beginning of the Hasmonean dynasty, restoring Jewish independence for the first time in centuries. Coins from this period, like this Prutah, are typically simple in design, often bearing symbols such as anchors or stars and inscriptions in paleo-Hebrew.

Certified by NGC, this authentic artifact offers collectors a powerful connection to the Maccabean revolt, the Hasmonean dynasty, and the spiritual and historical foundation of Chanukah. A must-have piece for collectors of Judaean coins, biblical artifacts, or anyone passionate about Jewish history.