PHILISTIA. Central Mint. Philistian-styled, circa 420-350 BCE. Rbʾ Šql = Drachm (Silver, 15 mm, 3.61 g, 6 h). Youthful female head to right, hair gathered at the back. Rev. Head of a horned lion-griffin right, horns terminating in duck heads, devouring a horse protome; all within dotted square border within incuse square. BMC Palestine pl. XIX, 23 (same dies). Gitler & Tal XXVII.6Db (this coin). Hendin -. Jeselsohn 351 (same dies). Shoshana -. Sofaer -. Extremely rare and among the finest of a very few known examples. A very interesting piece with a highly attractive reverse. The obverse struck from a somewhat worn die and with two test cuts on the reverse edge, otherwise, very fine.



This wonderful piece offers what is probably the most detailed depiction of the Achaemenid-inspired horned lion-griffin on Philistian coinage. By reducing the full figure to a single head, the engraver gives the image remarkable focus: not only the powerfully rendered, almost savage lion’s head is visible, but also the finely ribbed horns, which terminate in duck heads. With jaws wide open, the lion-griffin devours its prey, a horse shown only as a protome.

In condensing a classic animal-combat scene, familiar from many ancient coin types, into so compact an image, the artist created a composition of striking intensity and beauty. Comparisons may be drawn with the lion and bull at Akanthos (cf. also lot 36 above), or with the lion and stag at Velia, Tarsos, and Kition. At the same time, the image reflects not only the broad cultural currents of the Levantine world, but also a distinctly local Philistian adaptation of them.