Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Pavlos, post: 7332523, member: 96635&quot;]Thanks for sharing. It is not the first time I see misattributions in finds in Israel by &quot;experts&quot;.</p><p>It is indeed a Demetrios II tetradrachm minted in Tyre, so definitely not a Tyrian shekel (that would indicate it is struck autonomously by the city).</p><p>Also it is as you say a tetradrachm, but struck in the Phoenician weight standard, these do weight similar to the shekel, but it is wrong to call it that, it is like calling all the tetradrachms from the Ptolemies a shekel.</p><p><br /></p><p>The article makes me cringe. Next to that they identify this as &quot;Melqart&quot;, &quot;According to the expert, this is is an exceptionally rare discovery.&quot;. What kind of <u>experts</u> say this is exceptionally rare? Demetrios II and other Seleukid kings who struck the eagle-type are common coins, especially from Tyre, and only hoards of these types were found in Phoenicia where this weight standard was predominantly used. So it is actually a common and expected discovery in that area of the world.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is my &quot;exceptionally rare shekel&quot;:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1280707[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Alexander I (Balas). 152/1-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Tyre mint. Dated SE 167 (146/5 BC).</b></p><p><b><b>Obverse:</b></b> Diademed and draped bust of Alexander Balas right.</p><p><b><b>Reverse:</b> </b>BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY (“of King Alexander”). Eagle standing left on prow of galley, palm-branch over right shoulder; club surmounted by monogram to left, ΙΞΡ (date) and monogram to right.</p><p><b>Reference: </b>SNG Spaer 1545-1546; Newell, Tyre 79; Houghton 749.</p><p>13.73g (Phoenician standard)[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in