GREEK. PHOENICIA. Tyre. Circa 126/5 BC-A.D. 65/6. Silver Shekel (13.98g). Dated Civic Year 51 (76/5 BC). Laureate head of Melqart right, lion-skin knotted around neck / TYROU IERAS KAI ASYLOU, eagle standing left on prow, palm over right wing; AN (date) above club in left field, A in right field, Phoenician alef between legs. DCA Tyre 183. Beautifully centred, with an unusually complete reverse and very attractive deep old cabinet toning. As fine an example as can be found of this iconic series. EF for the issue. Tyrian silver shekels form one of the most historically charged coinages of the ancient world. Struck to a consistently high standard of weight and purity, they became the preferred trade and temple coin of the eastern Mediterranean and are widely regarded as the most likely candidate for the 'thirty pieces of silver' of the New Testament. Their types, with Melqart as the tutelary god of Tyre on the obverse and the proud eagle on ship's prow on the reverse, encapsulate both the city's religious traditions and its maritime, commercial power. As such, each shekel stands at the intersection of Phoenician identity, regional commerce and the religious history of Second Temple Judea. For the same type and issue see; Heritage Auction 3100, lot 35029, hammered US$6,500. (P)

Estimate: AUD 5000