PHOENICIA. Tyre. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. 'Shekel' (Bronze, 23 mm, 11.80 g, 12 h), a contemporary bronze imitation. Laureate head of Melkart to right, lion skin tied around neck. Rev. [TYPOY] IEPAΣ KAI AΣ[YΛOY] Eagle standing left on prow; in field to left, blundered date (Iς?) above club; to right, XI/Ζ. DCA 926. CNG 120 (2022), 460 var. (differing controls). Extremely rare. Somewhat rough, otherwise, good fine.

While the shekels from Tyre are best known as silver coins, rare issues of bronzes with the same types are also attested. Curiously, the present piece appears to combine a carefully engraved obverse with a more crudely produced reverse. While some of the bronzes appear to be official pieces, ours may instead be a contemporary imitation.