SAMARIA (?). Uncertain. Circa 400-332 BC. Half M'h (Silver, 7 mm, 0.24 g, 6 h). Dolphin springing to right. Rev. Facing head of a panther within round incuse. CSC Tyre 28 (as 'Tyre'). Meshorer & Qedar -. Sofaer 237 (as 'Samaria'). Rare and darkly toned. Somewhat rough, otherwise, very fine.


These pieces have traditionally been attributed to Samaria, but CSC has recently expressed doubts and proposed a reattribution to Tyre. The evidence cited is: ‘See CHL: 220, indicating that CHL 237 was “acquired with a coin from Tyre”.’ However, Phoenician and Samaritan coins are not infrequently found in mixed groups; given the iconography, which is rather unusual for a coin of Tyre, the present cataloguer therefore prefer to retain the attribution to Samaria.