HASMONEAN AE PRUTAH, "BROCKAGE", 135 - 76 B.C.E
Obverse: Double Cornucopia with pomegranate in center
Reverse: Brockage of double Cornucopia with pomegranate in center
Brockage Hasmonean prutot are rare altogether. When found, they are usually off center and sloppily struck. Here is probably the first example we can recall after examining tens of thousands of these that is well engraved with a perfectly centered brockage. Quite a handsome prutah!
A brockage is when a coin has the same design on both obverse and reverse, one side in relief and the other in incuse. This is caused by the mint worker forgetting to remove the previous coin from the die. When he strikes a new planchet the relief of the previous coin is engraved in incuse onto the new planchet.
