UNCERTAIN EAST. Uncertain Sanctuary of Bēl, circa late 4th to 3rd century BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 9 mm, 0.46 g, 3 h). Radiate faing head of Belos. Rev. BH-ΛOY Triangular structure surmounted by triangular-shaped object with central pellet; to upper left, olive leaf (or grain ear?); all within dotted square within incuse square. Classical Numismatic Group E-Auction 598 (2025), 273 (as 'Uncertain'). Obolos 42 (2026), 511 (described as 'Babylonia'). Extremely rare and very likely the finest known example. Sharply struck and with excellent details. Slightly rough, otherwise, extremely fine.


Nomos rightly notes that the legend is to be understood as 'of Bēlos' or 'coin of Bēlos.' The issue should therefore probably be placed in the context of a sanctuary of Bēl. Whether the reverse type, as suggested in the Nomos catalogue, depicts a ziggurat - and whether the Bēl invoked here should consequently be identified with Marduk - seems highly doubtful. Not only does the structure, surmounted by a triangle, scarcely resemble a ziggurat; on related coins, the same triangle appears set upon a simple two-stepped base, accompanied by a sword and a facing radiate head of Bēl (see lot 928 below). This suggests that we are dealing not with a building, but with cult objects.

While it is probably correct that the coins were issued by a sanctuary of Bēl, there is no need to think immediately of Babylonia, since Bēl was widely worshipped elsewhere as well - most famously, perhaps, at Palmyra, where a celebrated temple of Bēl stood. Chronologically, the pieces should probably be assigned to the early Hellenistic period, when Greek was beginning to displace Aramaic as the language of administration in much of the former Achaemenid Empire.