Extremely Rare Gaza Obol

251, Lot: 173. Estimate $100. Sold for $245. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHILISTIA (PALESTINE), Gaza. Mid 5th century-333 BC. AR Obol (7mm, 0.65 g, 10h). Female(?) head right, oriental hairstyle with bunched hair in the back / Forepart of horse right; above, possibly Zayin ‘Ayin (or missing?); all within incuse square. Cf. Gitler & Tal VI.2O = cf. HGC 10, 564 (same obv. die?); Hendin -. VF, toned. Extremely rare - either unique if the letters on the reverse are missing from the die, or if simply obscure then the second known specimen.

The letters Zayin ‘Ayin are evident on the reverse of both the unique obol and hemiobol illustrated in Gitler & Tal, as well as on the two known drachms from this issue. If they were present on the die used to strike this coin - which is clearly different than that used to strike the Gitler & Tal specimen - then they were obscured in the striking process.