PHILISTIA. Askalon (Ashkelon). Circa 420-350 BCE. Mʿh = Obol (Silver, 10 mm, 0.77 g, 6 h). Female head to right, the hair drawn back and tied into a ponytail, wearing a pearl necklace; before, V-shaped symbols within circular guilloche-pattern border. Rev. Owl standing facing, wings spread; to upper left, 𐤍𐤀 (ʾN in Phoenician); above the owl's head and below its feet, hieroglyphic sign for a ripple of water (?); lotus buds on four sides; all within incuse square. Fischer-Bossert, Philistian, 6c = Gitler & Tal III.4Ob corr. (this coin, but necklace and obverse ornaments not noted, and the hieroglyphic sign for water below not above the owl). Hendin -. Jeselsohn -, cf. 35 (same reverse die). Shoshana -. Sofaer -. Extremely rare, one of just six known examples, and only the second known specimen of this previously unrecognized variety. Darkly toned with a few attractive earthen deposits. Struck from a worn obverse die, otherwise, good very fine.



For a detailed discussion of this newly recognized variety, see lot 14 above.