Lot 2019

Description

Phoenicia, Tyre, (c.2nd century B.C. - 1st century A.D.), silver shekel or tetradrachm, (14.33 grams), Tyre mint, issued 76-75 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 AN ( = 51 (= 76-5 B.C.), to right **D*, Phoenician letter between legs, around **TYPOU IEPAS KAI ASULOU*, (S.5918, cf.BMC 141, H. 917 [305]). Large broad flan and slightly off centred on reverse, about as struck, extremely fine and rare in this condition.

Ex. Superior Auctions USA, 13 August 1995, (lot 1082 illustrated). A coin type often described as one of the thirty pieces of silver paid to Judas to betray Christ.