Herod Agrippa I, Roman client king of Judea from 41-44 AD. Herod Agrippa born circa 11 AD, was named Marcus Julius Agrippa after Marc Anthony, Julius Caesar, and Marcus Agrippa. He was the grandson of Herod the Great and son of Aristobulus.
To protect Agrippa from the purge that Herod was making of his family at age five his mother took him to Rome where he was educated. While there he became close friends with Claudius and Caligula. He angered the current emperor Tiberius, because of a comment that he made hoping that Caligula would one day be emperor. Tiberius had him thrown into prison. Six months later Tiberius died and Caligula did indeed become emperor. He had his friends released. Caligula than crowned him king of his uncle Philip's former tetarchy.
When Antipas at the urging of his wife went to Rome and asked Caligula for more power, this angered the emperor and Antipas was stripped of his lands and banished to Gaul. Agrippa was than given all of Antipas's territories, becoming the king of all Judea. By all accounts he was a good and just king.
Agrippa is mentioned in Acts 12 of the Bible and in the Hebrew Talmud. He died at age 54 in 44 AD.
AE Prutah (Lepton)
Obverse: Umbrella, with Greek legend " Of King Agrippa"
Reverse: Ears of Barley, Dated year 6, 41/42 AD.
18mm x2.7g x 12h
Hendin 1244
Posted 09/14/2017 6:56 pm
