Description: Judaea, AE Prutah, Antonius Felix (52-60 CE)
Obverse: NERW KLAV KAICP (Nero Claudius Caesar) around two crossed shields and spears. Reverse: BRIT (Britannicus, son of Claudius) across a six-branched palm tree bearing two bunches of dates in the field.
History: Antonius Felix served as procurator of Judaea from 52 to 60 CE, overseeing the province on behalf of the Roman Empire. A former Greek freedman, Felix was the brother of the influential court official Marcus Antonius Pallas, who helped him secure his position. His rule was marked by rising tensions with the Jewish population, including violent crackdowns on dissent, contributing to the unrest that later culminated in the Great Jewish Revolt (66-73 CE).
Felix issued coins exclusively in 54 CE, the same year he married Drusilla, sister of Herod Agrippa II, after persuading her to leave her husband, King Azizus of Emesa. His coin designs reflect his precarious role—featuring the palm tree, a longstanding symbol of Judaea, alongside Roman military imagery such as the crossed shields and spears, asserting imperial dominance. The inscription BRIT honors Britannicus, the son of Claudius, strengthening Felix’s ties to the ruling dynasty.
