Lot 4791

Description

Phoenicia, Tyre, (c. 2nd century B.C. - 1st century A.D.), silver shekel or tetradrachm, (13.72 grams), Tyre mint, issued 63-62 B.C., obv. laureate head of Melqarth beardless to right, rev. eagle to left with closed wings, carrying a palm, standing on prow of ship, club to left, also to left L**DX* ( = 64 = 63-62 B.C.], to right **D*, Phoenician letter between legs, around **TUROU IERAS KAI ASULOU*, (S.5918, BMC 154, H.917 [305]). Lightly toned, porosity on reverse, otherwise good very fine, scarce.

Ex Ye Olde Coin Company, Australia. 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).