SOLD Shekel of Tyre. Possibly struck in the 20s AD. 24-22 mm. 13.82 grams. Shekels of Tyre were dated using an era beginning in 126 BC. Prior to c. 18 BC they were struck at Tyre and have larger flans and legible dates in the left field. After that, the quality of the engraving decreases and the flans become less broad--thicker and with smaller diameter. Meshorer thought the type was discontinued at Tyre and restarted at Jerusalem. Hendin accepted the argument, but not everyone did. The transfer, if there was one, coincides with the introduction of "KP" in the right field, which this coin has. Hendin 919 "generally cruder style". The dates of these go from 18 BC to 69/70 AD, with a gap in the 20s. Brooks Levy (Proceedings of the 13th International Numismatic Congress) argued that the crude ones (like this one) without clear dates were not at the end of the series but in the gap in the 20s. This one is much like his #6, but with different control symbols. (I have many reference works but did not find this set of control symbols.) If this one has a date, it might be PN or PNΓ (garbled letters in the left field) which would be 150 or 24/4 or 27/8 AD. Maybe you know more about this than I do, in which case I would be happy if you wrote and told me. This coin shows little wear and is better than most of the so-called "crude" issue coins. If Books Levy is right, this coin was minted at a time such that it was likely to be circulating at the time of Christ's ministry and Judas's betrayal. [$975, reduced to $775 SOLD+$12 shipping in the US only SOLD ] If you care about the date of your shekel, this one might have one of the better dates, not so far from the events as the higher-quality bigger but much earlier shekels. SOLD Ptolemy II Philadelphos (283-246 BC). AR tetradrachm (27mm, 13.81g) Alexandria mint. Diademed head of Ptolemy I r., wearing aegis / Eagle standing l. on thunderbolt; to l., monogram above Galatian shield; Banker's marks on obverse. Svoronos 591; SNG Copenhagen 112 An excellent portrait of Ptolemy I on this coin of Ptolemy II. The banker's marks add character without damaging the details. Nice tone. Overall, a very nice coin [$275, reduced to $255 SOLD + $6 shipping in the US only SOLD] Please compare to prices elsewhere. For more ancient coins, see the pages at: http://augustuscoins.com/index.html
