The New York Sale
Auction 54 11 Jan 2022
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Judaea, Yehud (Judah). Hezekiah. Silver 1/2 Ma'ah Obol (0.26 g), ca. 375-332 BCE. Blank. Reverse: 'YHZ' partial inscription for Yehezqio - Hezekiah. Forepart of winged and horned lynx left. Cf. Hendin 1065-6; cf. TJC 24. Rare. Very Fine. Estimated Value $500 - UP
This remarkable coin of Hezekiah, who is usually identified as a High Priest of Jerusalem serving as governor of Judaea in the late Persian period. Lorber and Gitler have argued that the use of the Persic weight standard for this issue seems to support this dating, although it is also possible that it was struck shortly after the conquest of the region by Alexander the Great in 333/2 BC. Subsequent issues of Hezekiah feature the Attic standard favored by Alexander, but the young male head that is normally found on this Persic-weight issue seems out of place in the late Persian period. The peculiar lynx-griffin type of the reverse reflects local taste - similar creatures occur on Philistian and Samarian coinages of the fourth century BC.
This remarkable coin of Hezekiah, who is usually identified as a High Priest of Jerusalem serving as governor of Judaea in the late Persian period. Lorber and Gitler have argued that the use of the Persic weight standard for this issue seems to support this dating, although it is also possible that it was struck shortly after the conquest of the region by Alexander the Great in 333/2 BC. Subsequent issues of Hezekiah feature the Attic standard favored by Alexander, but the young male head that is normally found on this Persic-weight issue seems out of place in the late Persian period. The peculiar lynx-griffin type of the reverse reflects local taste - similar creatures occur on Philistian and Samarian coinages of the fourth century BC.