PHILISTIA. Central Mint. Athenian-styled, circa 420-350 BCE. Mʿh = Obol (Silver, 10 mm, 0.65 g, 6 h). Female head to right, wearing laureate helmet. Rev. Owl standing facing, wings spread, between upright palm fronds; all within incuse square. Gitler & Tal XIV.32Oa (this coin). Hendin -. Jeselsohn -. Shoshana -. Sofaer -. Of the highest rarity, the finer of just two known examples. Slightly rough and with light deposits on the obverse, otherwise, extremely fine.



Gitler and Tal describe the obverse as a ‘female laureated head’; however, the outline of a helmet bowl above the brow, as well as a neck guard, is clearly visible (see also lot 110 below). The head thus appears to be reminiscent of Athena, although the Philistian artist omitted the crest and substituted a laurel wreath for the olive leaves on the helmet bowl. Alternatively, if the head is indeed bearded, it would instead represent a male figure comparable to that on lot 100 below.

The reverse has likewise been modified. Although it recalls lots 24, 64 and 65 – whose reverse types ultimately derive from Athenian hemidrachms – the olive branches have here been replaced by long palm fronds.