Double cornucopiae; pomegranate between horns // Paleohebrew inscription in wreath Yehohanan hacohen hagadol haver hayehudim (“Yehohanan the High Priest (and) the Council of the Jews”). 14mm, 2.05 grams. Mint of Jerusalem (?). Hendin 457.
John Hyrcanus I was a prominent Hasmonean high priest and leader of Judea who ruled from 135/134 to 104 BCE. As the son of Simon Maccabeus, he successfully secured Judea's political independence from the Seleucid Empire, expanded its territory through military conquests, and consolidated power during a period of regional prosperity.