1/2 Prutah - Alexander Jannaeus

Alexander Jannaeus was the first Hasmonean ruler to formally adopt the title "King" on his coinage, a pointed political assertion made during a reign defined by violent internal conflict — most notably the six-year civil war against his own Pharisee subjects, in which he reportedly crucified 800 opponents in a single day. The half prutah represents the smallest denomination of his extensive bronze issues, likely serving daily transactions in a period when Judea's territorial reach was near its Hasmonean maximum.

Hendin 1145 is among the more frequently encountered Hasmonean types, yet condition rarities are genuine — the thin fabric and soft bronze make undamaged surfaces the exception.