PHOENICIA. Tyre. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. Shekel (Silver, 25 mm, 14.34 g, 12 h), CY 159 = AD 33/4. Laureate head of Melkart to right, lion skin tied around neck. Rev. TYPOY IEPAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY Eagle standing left on prow, wings closed and with palm frond behind; to left, ΡNΘ above club; to right, KP above monogram of BXE; between the eagle's legs, 𐤁 (B in Punic). BMC 204 var. (monogram). DCA Tyre 578 (S). HGC 10, 357. RPC I 4663. Beautifully toned and in exceptional condition for this key date, issued in the year of Jesus' crucifixion. Light marks, otherwise, very fine.


Due to the lack of contemporary sources, the exact year of Jesus' crucifixion has been a hotly debated topic since ancient times, with estimates ranging from the late 20th to the 30th or 33rd year AD. The most widely accepted assumption is that the events surrounding his trial and execution took place in the spring of 33 AD and thus coincided with the issuing of this shekel, which for this reason is by far the most illustrious in the entire Tyrian series.