PHILISTIA (PALESTINE). Azotos (Ashdod). Mid 5th century-333 BC. Drachm (Silver, 14 mm, 3.73 g, 2 h). Archaic-style janiform head, composed of a female to right and a bearded male to left, wearing headdreass in the form of a bovine recumbent to left. Rev. Bovine recumbent to right, head to left, with small owl concealed in its body; below, two ram's heads facing each other; above, 𐤔𐤃𐤃 ('shdd' in Phoenician); all within incuse square. Gitler & Tal II.5Da (same dies). Extremely rare. An incredibly interesting and attractive piece. Test cut on the reverse and a few minor die breaks, otherwise, extremely fine.


An interesting minor detail about this wonderful coin is the small owl concealed in the forepart of the bovine's body on the reverse, a playful memento of the deep influence the Athenian owls had on the coinage of the Levante and beyond.