Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXIII 24-25 Mar 2022
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Philistia (Palestine), Gaza AR Drachm. Circa 450-400 BC. Imitating Athens. Helmeted head of Athena to right, with archaic eye to front; Phoenician letters 'mem'(?) and 'beth' on cheek / Forepart of horse to right, Phoenician letters ' 'ayin' and 'zayin' to upper left; all in dotted square within incuse square. Apparently unpublished: for similar example cf. Gitler-Tal Group XIII.23Da = CNG 118, 588 (ram's head instead of letters on rev., hammer 3,750 USD), cf. Group V for Athena head obv. type and Group VI for horse forepart rev. type. 2.95g, 16mm, 9h.
Near Extremely Fine; test cuts. An unpublished and possibly unique variant, of great numismatic significance.
From the inventory of a UK dealer.
The prominent position of the Philistine city-state of Gaza (Phoenician 'aza') as an entrepreneurial centre is well attested in numismatic data of the mid 5th century BC. The city seems to have acted as the principal trade outlet of the autonomous Arabian-Kedarite kings of the interior who, in turn, recognized the sovereignty of the king of Persia. According to the atthidographos Philochorus of the 3rd century BC, the Athenian tetradrachm was known colloquially and throughout the ancient world as glaux (γλαύξ = little owl) and as 'owl' to modern numismatics. They circulated in prodigious numbers throughout Asia Minor and Near East, where non-Athenian imitative tetradrachms, drachms and obols provide evidence for the wide popularity of 'owls' as a mode of payment. They can be divided into two classes: imitative copies, however competent, which were intended to circulate alongside originals, and those which make no pretence to pass as Athenian coins, but nevertheless reflect familiarity with Athenian types, as is the case with this newly discovered variant which combines elements of G-T Groups V, VI and XIII with an enigmatic legend on the cheek of Athena.
Near Extremely Fine; test cuts. An unpublished and possibly unique variant, of great numismatic significance.
From the inventory of a UK dealer.
The prominent position of the Philistine city-state of Gaza (Phoenician 'aza') as an entrepreneurial centre is well attested in numismatic data of the mid 5th century BC. The city seems to have acted as the principal trade outlet of the autonomous Arabian-Kedarite kings of the interior who, in turn, recognized the sovereignty of the king of Persia. According to the atthidographos Philochorus of the 3rd century BC, the Athenian tetradrachm was known colloquially and throughout the ancient world as glaux (γλαύξ = little owl) and as 'owl' to modern numismatics. They circulated in prodigious numbers throughout Asia Minor and Near East, where non-Athenian imitative tetradrachms, drachms and obols provide evidence for the wide popularity of 'owls' as a mode of payment. They can be divided into two classes: imitative copies, however competent, which were intended to circulate alongside originals, and those which make no pretence to pass as Athenian coins, but nevertheless reflect familiarity with Athenian types, as is the case with this newly discovered variant which combines elements of G-T Groups V, VI and XIII with an enigmatic legend on the cheek of Athena.