Lot 5102

Description

Egypt, Pharonic kings, uncertain Pharaoh, period of the 28th-30th dynasties, (c. 400-350 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (16.88 grams), obv. head of Athena to right wearing crested helmet, eye in profile, rev. owl standing to right, head facing, in erect posture, olive twig and crescent behind, to right, **AQE* all in incuse square, (cf. s.2526, cf. Van Alfen, Plate 6, 103). Lightly toned, nearly as struck, extremely fine and in a high state of preservation. Of fine style and rare.

Van Alfen notes that coins were produced in Egypt for the first time in this period. The decades leading up to the re-establishment of the Persian satrapal government in the late 340s B.C. saw the issue of Athenian style tetradrachms for use in trade. It is likely that this coin forms part of that short series. Similar pieces imitating Athenian tetradrachms were minted in Philistia, but display a crude style.