Phoenicia. Tyre. Year 144 = 18/19 AD. Shekel, 14.15g. (12h). Obv: Laureate head of Melqart right with lionskin knotted around neck. Rx: TVPOV IEP[AΣ KAI AΣVΛ]OV Eagle standing left on prow, palm over its shoulder, club and date PMΔ in field before, KP and monogram behind, Phoenician letter beth between eagle's legs. RPC 4657 (6 spec.). Prieur 1417. BM 199. Toned VF.
Ex Harry N. Sneh Collection. Ex Triton XI, 9 January 2008, lot 1760 (part).
Tyrian shekels were accepted currency for paying the temple tax at Jerusalem, and are generally thought to have made up the "thirty pieces of silver" that Judas received for betraying Jesus. Our example was struck during the lifetime of Jesus, about ten years before the crucifixion.