SAMARIA. Circa 375-333 BC. Obol (Silver, 9 mm, 0.65 g, 9 h). Facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue. Rev. Facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue within shallow incuse. CNG E-Auction 174 (2007), 69. CNG E-Auction 321 (2014), 166 corr. Meshorer & Qedar -. Sofaer -. Extremely rare. Darkly toned and in exceptional condition for the issue. Struck slightly off center, otherwise, good very fine.

The first of these enigmatic pieces appeared in 2007, when it was attributed to Samaria, but this was amended on the second example to 'uncertain Asia Minor' (CNG E-Auction 321, lot 166). However, contrary to the note on the latter coin, this cataloguer sees the issue entirely within the stylistic boundaries of the coinage of Samaria, all the more as the present example was consigned to us in a small group of Samarian coins.

Please note that this coin is not part of the Canaan Collection, but we have decided to group all Philistian, Samarian and Idumaean coins together