PHILISTIA. Central Mint. Philistian-styled, circa 420-350 BCE. Rbʾ Šql = Drachm (Silver, 15 mm, 3.12 g, 8 h). Bearded male head to right, hair gathered at the back. Rev. Janiform hybrid head, composed of a youthful male (?) head to right and a roaring lion’s head to left; in upper right field, olive sprig; all within dotted square border within incuse square. Gitler & Tal XVI.21Da (this coin). Hendin -. Jeselsohn 282 (same dies). Mildenberg, Palästina, pl. LIX, 91. Shoshana -. Sofaer -. Extremely rare. Very well centered and beautifully toned. Test cut on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine.



The combination of a lion and a male (?) head recalls lots 67-70, where the lion is placed atop a double-faced human head. The present piece is likewise best understood in apotropaic terms: the two-faced head, combining human and leonine features, evokes protection and the warding off of danger.