Lot 2058

Description

Phoenicia-Samaria, local Athenian imitations, (c.375-346 B.C.), silver obol, (0.82 grams), probably struck at Gaza, Samaria Hoard No.284 (THIS COIN) (p.79, Plate 47), obv. head of Athena to right, rev. owl standing to right, head facing, to right downwards A Y E. Fine - very fine and rare.

Ex. Samaria Hoard 284, and Sotheby, Zurich Sale Oct. 27-8, 1993 (lot 998 part). $$ The inclusion of these Athenian imitations in the Samaria Hoard, establishes the existance of a local mint (maybe Gaza or even a Samarian mint) striking this coinage for local acceptance to supplement the distinctive local coinage of Samaria. The hoard was buried about 346-5 B.C. and thus the chronological implications indicate this issue to be prior to that date.