ATTICA. Athens, or PHILISTIA (PALESTINE). Uncertain mint. Circa 440s-430s BC, or somewhat later. Tetradrachm (Silver, 25 mm, 17.00 g, 7 h). Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves and palmette. Rev. AΘE Owl standing right, head facing; to left, olive sprig and crescent; to lower right, Aramaic letter (?); all within incuse square. CNG E-Auction 509 (2022), 265 (as Philistian) = CNG 117 (2021), 313 (as Philistian) = CNG E-Auction 406 (2017), 324 (as Athens) (same reverse die). Cf. Kroll 8 and Svoronos pl. 12 passim (for Athens). Gitler & Tal -. The obverse struck somewhat off center and with a test cut on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.



The faint contours between the owl and the ethnic were interpreted by CNG as an Aramaic letter during the second and third auction of the parallel piece. However, it remains ultimately unclear whether the pieces are really of Philistine origin.