SOUTHERN LEVANT. Athenian-styled Imitations. Circa 420s-350 BCE. Rbʾ Šql = Drachm (Silver, 14 mm, 3.24 g, 12 h). Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves and palmette. Rev. Owl standing right, head facing; to left, olive sprig and crescent; to right, Α☉Ε; all within incuse square. Gitler & Tal VII.1Da (this coin). Jeselsohn 156 (with possible 𐡔 on cheek). Nicely toned and well centered. Slightly rough and with some deposits and scratches, otherwise, very fine.



When it was first published, Gitler & Tal regarded the piece as a Philistian imitation, although stylistically it differs markedly from VII.1Db. According to the collector’s note, A. Walker considered our piece to be an official Athenian coin of the 430s/420s BC. This cataloguer agrees with Walker’s assessment of its excellent style; however, at 3.24 g, its weight is far too low for an official Athenian issue, given the mint’s generally strict adherence to the Attic weight standard, even allowing for some weight loss through corrosion. The piece is therefore probably a Levantine imitation after all, perhaps Philistian, although this cannot be demonstrated with certainty.