Lot 4303

Description

Phoenicia, Tyre, (c. 2nd century B.C. - 1st century A.D.), silver shekel or tetradrachm, (13.47 g), Tyre mint, issued year 20 = 107/6 B.C., obv. laureate head of Melqarth beardless to right, dotted border, rev. eagle to left with closed wings, carrying a palm, standing on prow of ship, club to left, above LK, monogram HAP in right field, around **TUROU IER[AS KAI ASU]LOU*, (S.5918, Cohen [p.502], BMC 91 p.238, [this date], H.1618 [817]). Dark patination, off centred both sides, surface scratches and porosity, otherwise fine and scarce.

Ex Dr. L.J. Sherwin Collection and from Status International Auction, June 3, 2016 (lot 9753).
The Shekels and half shekels of Tyre are of special interest in this series of Ancient Jewish and Biblical coins as Jews had to pay an annual sum to the Jerusalem Temple one half shekel and the only acceptable money were the 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 were these Tyre shekels. (See Hendin pages 288-293).