PHILISTIA. Central Mint. Athenian-styled, circa early 340s-332 BCE. Mʿh = Obol (Silver, 9 mm, 0.72 g, 6 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; in field to right, lotus bud or lily; all within incuse square. Gitler & Tal XII.13Oa (this coin). Hendin 6022. Jeselsohn 202-203. Shoshana II 20020. Sofaer -. Rare and beautifully preserved, with wonderful dark toning and an excellent reverse. Light die wear, otherwise, good very fine.



The flower depicted on this issue has sometimes been interpreted as the Lily of Jerusalem, leading to the coins’ attribution to the Yehud coinage. The pieces, however, are more likely to belong within the sphere of Philistine coinage. Gitler and Tal have further suggested that the motif may instead represent a lotus bud, which would point to Egyptian influence.