Do you have any two coins in your collection that seem to make a good pair - where, if you had only one, you’d feel like one was “missing?” That was the way I viewed the shekel and the less common half shekel of Tyre. For about four years, I had a full shekel, and felt that there was a “gap” in my collection for the half shekel. This year, I found one that met my selection criteria, and acquired it. Now the “twosome” are together ! These coins have connections to the Bible. Tyrian shekels had a relatively high silver content (94% or more vs Roman silver that was about 80% pure), and were the only coins accepted for the temple tax. Money changers made a business of exchanging other currencies for the shekel. Tax collectors once asked Peter in Capernaum if his teacher paid the two-drachma (half shekel) tax. After commenting on the question, Christ miraculously provided sufficient means, a stater (a four-drachma Greek coin, a full shekel), for the tax to be paid for Him and Peter (Matthew 17:24-27). Here’s the dynamic duo: PHOENICIA, Tyre. AR Shekel (13.29 g, 25 mm, 1h). Dated CY 113 = 14/13 BC. (Struck in the decade before Christ's birth.) Laureate head of Melkart right / ΤΥPΟΥ [ΙΕΡΑΣ] ΚΑΙ ΑΣΥΛΟΥ, eagle standing left on prow, palm frond behind; to left, PIΓ (date) above club; to right, KP above monogram; Beth between legs. PHOENICIA, Tyre. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. AR Half Shekel (20 mm, 6.57 g). Dated CY 137 (AD 11/12). (Struck during the period that Christ lived in Nazareth.) Laureate head of Melkart right, lion skin around neck. / TYPOY IEPAΣ KAI AΣ[Y]Λ[OY] Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond in background; to left, PΛZ (civic year date) above club; to right, KP above monogram; Phoenician B, signifying officina, between legs. What are your coin "duplets?" Please show your dynamic duos, or singles awaiting their pairing!
Carl, Those are two handsome coins . Half shekels struck during the lifetime of Christ are highly prized by collectors & expensive . The shekel pictured below I sold a long time ago. PHOENICIA-TYRE. 126/5 BC - AD 67/8 (Year 33, 94-3 BC). AR Shekel: 14.10 gm, 26 mm, 12 h. Ex Harlan J. Berk, Bid or Buy Sale. The two coins pictured below I consider a "Dynamic Duo" . I spent a long time searching for a choice gold solidus of Justinian I, struck at the Constantinople Mint, to go with the my 40 nummi coin struck at the same mint.
That's a very nice duo, Carl. I never did purchase a half shekel of Tyre, only the shekel many years ago. Perhaps one day I'll acquire a half shekel. Year 138 (12/13 AD) ex CNG 14.32 grams As for a duo, here are a follis and half follis of Justinian I. Half follis, Antioch, year 22. This coin is interesting because of the decanummiun die used for the obverse. Crusty but rare. Follis, Constantinople, year 32.
Whether they were dynamic or not, we may never know... I have a matched set of Sestertii that I bought at the same time. Can't get one of these dudes without the other. Also, notice that the Pupienus coin celebrates his victory over Maximinus Thrax, whereas Balbinus emphasizes Concord. However, there was very little cooperation between the two former senators, each residing in a separate part of the Palace and worrying about which of them would either be dispatched by the licentious Praetorian Guard or would engineer a coup against the other. Pupienus Æ Sestertius. 33mm, 29 grams, A.D. 238 Obverse: IMP CAES M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right Reverse: VICTORIA AVGG S-C, Victory standing front, looking left, holding wreath and palm branch. Reference: RIC 23a, Cohen 38. Balbinus. AD 238. Æ Sestertius, 33mm, 22.9g, 12h; Rome mint. 1st emission. Obv.: IMP CAES D CAEL BALBINVS AVG; Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: CONCORDIA AVGG; Concordia seated left, holding patera and double cornucopia; S C in exergue. Reference: RIC IVb 22, p. 171.