SAMARIA. Uncertain. Circa 400-332 BCE. Quarter Mʿh = Tetartemorion (Silver, 7 mm, 0.10 g, 2 h). Draped male bust to right. Rev. Facing male head with curly hair and beard within a shallow circular incuse. CSC UNC. 15. Hendin -. Jeselsohn I 355. Leu Judaica -. Meshorer & Qedar 194. Shoshana -. Sofaer -. Wyssmann -. Extremely rare and arguably the finest known example. Beautifully toned and exceptionally complete. Slightly rough, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.


In the CSC, this type is listed under ‘Uncertain’ and cautiously described as ‘Either a Samarian or a Cilician coin type’. Since the obverse head on our specimen is fully discernible for the first time and can clearly be identified as a male bust, a motif also found on other Samarian issues, the present cataloguer and Dr. Haim Gitler agree that the type is very likely of Samarian origin.