SAMARIA. Series with personal names and miscellaneous letters. Circa 400-332 BCE. Mʿh = Obol (Silver, 10 mm, 0.84 g, 1 h). Horned head of a lion-griffin to right; around, illegible inscription. Rev. Forepart of a bull to right, head facing; before, illegible inscription; all within incuse square. CSC 186. Hendin 6044. Jeselsohn I 278-279. Leu Judaica 134. Meshorer & Qedar 159. Shoshana -. Sofaer 206. Wyssmann p. 291, MQ 159. Beautifully toned and exceptionally well preserved. Extremely fine.


Since the lettering is poorly defined and examples are rarely both well preserved and well struck, the legends on this type have unfortunately resisted decipherment to this day. Our specimen ranks among the finest known examples and may perhaps shed new light on this long-standing puzzle.