Lot 3559

Description

Phoenicia, Tyre, (c.2nd century B.C. - 1st century A.D.), silver shekel or tetradrachm, (13.358 grams), Tyre mint, issued 61-60 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 H**X* ( = year 66 = 59-8 B.C.), to right **S*, Phoenician letter between legs, around **TUPOU IERAS KAI ASULOU*, (S.5918, cf.BMC 159 [PL.XXX,6], H. 917 [305]). Toned, broad flan and with double striking on the edge, good very fine and rare as such.

A coin type often described as one of the thirty pieces of silver paid to Judas to betray Christ.