CNG 97, Lot: 401. Estimate $500. Sold for $1400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHILISTIA (PALESTINE), Uncertain mint. Mid 5th century-333 BC. AR Drachm (13mm, 4.24 g, 9h). Imitating Athens. Struck mid 4th century BC. Helmeted head of Athena with profile eye right, helmet with ‘Pi-style’ palmette / Owl standing right, head facing; olive spray and crescent to left; all within incuse square. Cf. Gitler & Tal XI.3D and 5D (Aramaic letter in field on rev.). Good VF, toned, some minor roughness. Very rare without letter on reverse.

From the Patrick H. C. Tan Collection.

A series of Athenian imitation drachms is known for Philistia without Aramaic letters (Gitler & Tal XI.1D), but these imitate the earlier, classical period drachms with frontal eye on Athena and regular palmette on her helmet. Although the present type is unpublished in the standard references, similar pieces have appeared on the market recently (cf. CNG 90, lot 758, and Heritage [10 April 2014], lot 23397–9). All of these pieces have a more schematic style, which is somewhat different from the Philistian coins, and may suggest a mint further east, perhaps in Arabia.