Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 608. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 8 June 2005.  Sold For $575. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHOENICIA, Sidon. Baalshallim II. Circa 407/2-372/68 BC. AR Double Shekel (28.18 gm, 1h). Dated RY 3[2-4] (circa 373-368 BC). War galley travelling left over waves; bet above / King of Persia and driver in chariot left; Baalshallim following behind, date above. Betlyon 18 corr.; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC Phoenicia p. 144, 25 corr. (date). Good Fine, lightly toned. Extremely rare date. ($300)

Ex Freeman & Sear 7 (22 February 2002), lot 214.

The date on this coin is either 32, 33, or 34, and although a higher number is possible, the limits of the border render such a possibility to be quite unlikely. Interestingly, Betlyon and others noted the BMC specimen as being year 14, but the Phoenician numeral for 30 is visible (see BMC Phoenicia pl. XIX, 2). As earlier chronologies for the kings of Sidon did not permit such a high dating, it is likely that the weak appearance of the number prompted others to believe it was a die break. Nevertheless, the vivid appearance of the numeral here is conclusive, and the revised chronologies for the period do permit a reading in the 30s (see J. Elayi & A.G. Elayi, Tresors de monnaies pheniciennes et circulation monetaire [Paris, 1993]).