Lot 3173

Description

Phoenicia, Sidon, king Baalshallim II (c.386-370 B.C.), issued c.371 in his 15th year, silver tetrashekel, (27.935 grams), obv. war galley travelling to left over waves, Phoenician "B" above, cable border around, rev. King of Persia in chariot with driver, Egyptian attendant or the king of Sidon behind, all within cable circle border, above date = year 15, (cf.S.5934, cf.Bet 16 [ANSMN 21], cf.BMC 19 [p.143], cf.SNG Fitz 6046, cf.Betylon 18 [p.9, Pl.2, 4]). Very fine and rare, the type unpublished.

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 67 (lot 1742). Several examples of the dated coinage has appeared in recent years all coming from a common find. They are variously dated from years 13 to 16. Year 15 corresponds to the second last date of issue of Baalshallim II and this must correspond to the very low 370's (371/370 B.C). Betylon, a recent scholar in this series makes no comment on the dated coinage except for a year 14 (p.11) the example in BMC 25 (p.144) which he indicates was the last date. This year 15 and an obvious change to the chronology and makes it more likely to finish c.370 B.C. in his 16th year. An example of year 16 was in our Sale 65 (lot 1841).