{"product_id":"ancient-greek-coin-preserved-fat-chunky-jesus-christ-birth-star-of-bethlehem","title":"ANCIENT GREEK COIN PRESERVED (Fat \u0026 Chunky) JESUS CHRIST Birth STAR of BETHLEHEM","description":"\u003ch4 align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Georgia;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(28, 31, 35);\"\u003eYou are buying \u003cb\u003eONE\u003c\/b\u003e preserved Ancient Greek coin as pictured above. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(28, 31, 35);\"\u003eComes in a display case with Certificate of Authenticity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Georgia;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Georgia;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGenuine Authentic Ancient Coin \u003c\/strong\u003eof: Greek city of Antioch on the Orontes in Seleukis and Pieria\u003cb\u003e, Star of Bethlehem Issue\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Georgia;\"\u003eBronze 20mm, Struck during Augustus' reign, circa from 13 A.D. under Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus Silanus, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Georgia;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Georgia;\"\u003e Laureate head of Zeus right. EΠI ΣIΛANOY ANTIOXEΩN, Ram leaping right, looking back at large star star (Constellation Aries), ΔM below (year 44 of the Actian era).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Georgia;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCommemorative issue\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStar of Bethelehem\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eObverse\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLaureate head of Zeus right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eReverse\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRam running right, looking back, star above, DM (year 44) below.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAT and BM - MHTPOΠOΛEΩN ANTIOXEΩN, “people of the metropolis Antioch.”\u003cbr\u003eΓΜ and ΔΜ - EΠI SILANOU ANTIOXEΩN, “ reign of Silanus Antioch”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLettering:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan id=\"reverse_lettering\"\u003eΕΠΙ ΣΙΛΑΝΟΥ \u003cbr\u003eΔΜ\u003cbr\u003eΑΝΤΙΟXΕΩΝ\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eComments:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"fiche_comments\" class=\"ck-content\"\u003eAntioch, Syria, AE Legate issue under Augustus. It is from the actian year 44, meaning it was struck between 12 to 13 AD.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMichael Molnar, an astronomer, believes this coin depicts Jupiter's occultation of Aries in 6 B.C., the most probable \"Star of Bethlehem.\"\u003cbr\u003eStruck under Quintus Caeceilius Metellus Creticus Silanus.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDates: AT for age 12. BM, ΓΜ, ΔΜ for age 18. (Actian Era began 31 BC)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"ck-content\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Georgia;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eInteresting Background \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Georgia;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Georgia;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ehttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HFl6JS9zobI\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Georgia;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003eThe biblical Star of Bethlehem most likely was Jupiter’s occultation (eclipse) of Aries in 6 B.C., according to collector and astronomer Michael Molnar. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003eMolnar believes a bronze coin of Roman Syria, issued by Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus Silanus, who was governor of Syria from A.D. 13 to A.D. 17, depicts the celestial event described as the Star of Bethlehem.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003eMolnar presents his case in a book titled The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi, which has been acclaimed by other astronomers and translated into several languages. Molnar explains that Aries (a ram) was the sign of the Jews, and that ancient stargazers would have watched for the Star of Bethlehem in Syria. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003eAccording to Molnar, Jupiter underwent two occultations (“eclipses”) by the Moon in Aries in 6 B.C. Jupiter was the regal “star” that conferred kingships, he said. The second occultation on April 17 coincided precisely when Jupiter was “in the east,” a condition mentioned twice in the biblical account about the Star of Bethlehem. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003eIn August of that year Jupiter became stationary and then “went before” through Aries where it became stationary again on Dec. 19, 6 B.C. This is when the regal planet “stood over” — a secondary royal portent also described in the Bible. \u003cbr\u003eA Roman astrologer confirms that the conditions of April 17, 6 B.C., were believed to herald the birth of a divine, immortal, and omnipotent person born under the sign of the Jews, according to Molnar. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003e“The coins of Antioch and ancient astrological documents show that there was indeed a Star of Bethlehem as reported in the biblical account of Matthew,” Molnar wrote.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003eThe bronze coin of Silanus is often identified as the “Star of Bethlehem” coin.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003eIn Christian tradition, the Star of Bethlehem, also called the Christmas Star, revealed the birth of Jesus to the Biblical Magi, and later led them to Bethlehem. The star appears only in the nativity story of the Gospel of Matthew, where astrologers from the east are inspired by the star to travel to Jerusalem. There they meet King Herod of Judea, and ask where the king of the Jews had been born. Herod, following a verse from the Book of Micah interpreted as a prophecy, directs them to Bethlehem, to the south of Jerusalem. The star leads them to Jesus' home in the town, where they worship him and give him gifts. The wise men are then given a divine warning not to return to Herod so they return home by a different route.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003eMany Christians see the star as a miraculous sign to mark the birth of the Christ (or messiah). Some theologians claimed that the star fulfilled a prophecy, known as the Star Prophecy. Astronomers have made several attempts to link the star to unusual astronomical events, such as a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, a comet or a supernova.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003eMany modern scholars do not consider the story to be describing a historical event but a pious fiction created by the author of the Gospel of Matthew.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003eIn the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the \"Father of Gods and men\" (πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε)\u003csup\u003e \u003c\/sup\u003ewho ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003eZeus was the child of Cronus and Rhea, and the youngest of his siblings. In most traditions he was married to Hera, although, at the oracle of Dodona, his consort was Dione: according to the Iliad, he is the father of Aphrodite by Dione. He is known for his erotic escapades. These resulted in many godly and heroic offspring, including Athena, Apollo and Artemis, Hermes, Persephone (by Demeter), Dionysus, Perseus, Heracles, Helen of Troy, Minos, and the Muses (by Mnemosyne); by Hera, he is usually said to have fathered Ares, Hebe and Hephaestus.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003eAs Walter Burkert points out in his book, Greek Religion, \"Even the gods who are not his natural children address him as Father, and all the gods rise in his presence.\" For the Greeks, he was the King of the Gods, who oversaw the universe. As Pausanias observed, \"That Zeus is king in heaven is a saying common to all men\". In Hesiod's Theogony Zeus assigns the various gods their roles. In the Homeric Hymns he is referred to as the chieftain of the gods.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: large;\"\u003eHis symbols are the thunderbolt, eagle, bull, and oak. In addition to his Indo-European inheritance, the classical \"cloud-gatherer\" also derives certain iconographic traits from the cultures of the Ancient Near East, such as the scepter. Zeus is frequently depicted by Greek artists in one of two poses: standing, striding forward, with a thunderbolt leveled in his raised right hand, or seated in majesty.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Authentic Ancients","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55507656474923,"sku":null,"price":265.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0711\/8753\/0027\/files\/ScreenShot2026-09-09at7.07.49pm.png?v=1788944897","url":"https:\/\/www.authenticancients.com\/products\/ancient-greek-coin-preserved-fat-chunky-jesus-christ-birth-star-of-bethlehem","provider":"Authentic Ancients ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}