CNG 84, Lot: 739. Estimate $5000. Sold for $6000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHILISTIA (PALESTINE), Uncertain mint. Mid 5th century-333 BC. AR Drachm (15mm, 3.36 g, 12h). Imitating Athens. Helmeted head of Athena right; Aramaic shin on cheek / Owl standing right, head facing; olive spray behind; all within incuse square. Gitler & Tal XI.8D-10D var. (letter on cheek). VF, some roughness. Unpublished with this letter on Athena’s cheek.

While a few different emissions in Philistia have this type with a letter on the cheek of Athena, this issue (Gitler & Tal XI) is one of the only ones imitating the earlier Athens type with the full frontal eye of Athena and deep incuse on the reverse. Of these, the style of the palmette on Athena’s helmet, oriented upwards, is unique to this issue.