Lot 3663

Description

Phoenicia, Tyre, (c.2nd century B.C. - 1st century A.D.), silver half shekel or didrachm, (6.74 g), Tyre mint, issued 77-76 B.C., obv. laureate head of Melqarth beardless to right, dotted border, rev. eagle to left with closed wings, carrying palm, standing on prow of ship, club to left, to left **QI* = 19 = 108-7 B.C.], to right monogram **SB*, Phoenician letter between legs, around **TUROU IERAS KAI AS[ULOU]*, (S.5921, cf.BMC 218, H.1619 [918], Cohen lists the date as unreported and if known as unique). Bright, slightly off centred, otherwise very fine/good fine and now known to be unique.

Ex Maurice Collection.
The Shekels and half shekels of Tyre are of special interest in this series of Ancient Jewish and Biblical coins. Jews had to pay an annual sum to the Jerusalem Temple of one half shekel [This Coin type] and the only acceptable money were the half shekels of Tyre. They 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 was made in Tyre as shekels. (See Hendin pages 288-293).