PHILISTIA (PALESTINE). Uncertain mint. Mid 5th century-333 BC. Obol (Silver, 10 mm, 0.75 g, 12 h). Facing head of a gorgoneion with protruding tongue.
Rev. Facing head of a gorgoneion with protruding tongue within circular incuse. Cf. CNG E-Auction 541 (2023), 195 (differing obverse type, but
same reverse die, although slightly recut). Gitler & Tal -, cf. XVI.16O (for reverse). Jeselsohn 279. Leu Web Auction 11 (2020), 1144 corr. (as Samaria). Very rare and of great numismatic interest. A beautiful piece of unusually fine style and with attractive dark toning. Slightly rough and with some deposits
, otherwise, about extremely fine.
From the collection of a Cosmopolitan, acquired before 2005.
The attribution of these obols to the Holy Land by this cataloguer has been questioned in the past, but the reverse die link of this specimen to the piece in Classical Numismatic Group E-Auction 541, 28 June 2023, 195, clearly shows that they are Philistine coins. In fact, in the recent publication of the Jeselsohn Collection adopts this view (Jeselsohn 279).
