ALEXANDER II., B.C. 65-49.—It has been gene rally supposed that there were no coins of Alex ander II., the son of Aristobulus II. The internal struggles of the brothers Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, who, not choosing to abide by the decision of Pompey in favour of Hyrcanus, was sent captive to Rome with his two sons, Alexander and Antigonus, thus causing Judma, which had risen to power through the unity of the Asmo means, to become through their dissensions a tribu tary province of Rome, fully explains the reason why we possess so few coins of this period. Cavedoni (Bibl. Num., vol. ii. p. 22, note) sug gests that the small brass coins, published by De Saulcy (pl. iv. 9-12), and ascribed by him to Alex ander Janmeus, belong to Alexander II. They may be described as follows :— Obv. AAEZANA. BAIIAEf2E, round an anchor.
Rev. A beaded circle round a star (or an anchor within a wreath). ./E 3.
There are generally traces of letters on the re verse, which have not been deciphered, owing to the bad condition of the coins. There is, how
ever, in the collection of the Rev. H. C. Reichardt, a coin with on the obverse, and on the reverse the Hebrew inscription ' Jonathan the Priest.' This coin Reichardt thinks may belong to Hyrcanus II., from its style, fabric, and types, which are similar to the coins of Alexander II. But, in all probability, it belongs to Alexander II., whose Jewish name, like that of his grandfather Alexander Jannmus, might also have been Jeho nathan' or ' Jonathan.' There are also, in the collection of the Rev. H. C. Reichardt, two in teresting coins with a partially legible Hebrew inscription, written round the circle on the reverse.
The only remaining word is V311153,/, Alexadras, or cyjnly71), Alekxadras, proving that Alexander II. deviated from the custom of his predecessors by placing also his Greek name in Hebrew cha racter.