CNG 97, Lot: 322. Estimate $300. Sold for $425. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SAMARIA, Samarian-signed Series. Circa 375-333 BC. AR Obol (9mm, 0.59 g, 11h). Male head left, wearing headdress of animal or creature / Palm tree flanked by two goats standing on hind legs. Meshorer & Qedar 110; Sofaer 61; HGC 10, –. VF, toned, obverse off center. Exceptional for this extremely rare issue.

From the Patrick H. C. Tan Collection.

The obverse on this coin, while off center and somewhat soft, is likely the finest in terms of clarity of the type. All other published specimens have very indistinct details visible on the obverse, which led Meshorer and Qedar to simply state that the head was helmeted. Here, though, one can clearly see the details of the headdress, which shows the skin of some animal or creature, with its ears and mane plainly visible.