Lot 3955

Description

Phoenicia, Tyre, (c. 2nd century B.C. - 1st century A.D.), silver shekel or tetradrachm, (11.936 grams), Tyre mint, issued 107-106 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 LK ( = 20 [= 107-6 B.C.], to right ZB monogram, Phoenician letter between legs, around **TUROU IERAS [KAI ASU]LOU*, (S.5918, BMC 93, H.917 [305]). Corroded surface and possibly plated, light weight, otherwise very fine.

This coin is unusual for the light weight but more likely from evidence of an acid environment when buried resulting in surface flaking and porosity. A minor cut in the edge suggests silver throughout. The shekels and half shekels of Tyre are of special interest as Jews had to pay an annual sum to the Jerusalem Temple of one half shekel and the only acceptable money was the shekel of Tyre. These were widely available in Jerusalem and well known for their true weight and good silver. It is also believed that the "thirty pieces of silver" paid to Judas consisted of these Tyre shekels. (See Hendin pages 288-293).