Lot 4648

Description

Phoenicia, Tyre, (c.2nd century B.C. - 1st century A.D.), silver shekel or tetradrachm, (14.336 grams), Tyre mint, issued 76-75 B.C., obv. laureate head of Melqarth beardless to right, rev. eagle to left with closed wings, carrying palm, standing on prow of ship, club to left, to left AN ( = #51 = 76-5 B.C.), to right **D*, Phoenician letter between legs, around **TUPOU IERAS KAI ASULOU*, (S.5918, cf.BMC 141, H. 917 [305]). Large broad flan and slightly off centred on reverse, about as struck, extremely fine and rare in this condition.

Ex Noble Numismatics Auction Sale 59 (lot 2019) and previously Superior Auctions USA, 13 August 1995, (lot 1082 illustrated). A coin type often described as one of the thirty pieces of silver paid to Judas to betray Christ.