CNG 84, Lot: 741. Estimate $1500. Sold for $6000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHILISTIA (PALESTINE), Uncertain mint. Mid 5th century-333 BC. AR Drachm (13mm, 2.34 g, 6h). Bearded head right / Hybrid janiform head, the left facing gorgoneion and perpendicularly oriented, the right a bearded head in profile right; all within incuse square. Cf. Gitler & Tal XVI.23Da (for rev. type). Good VF, find patina. Unpublished type combination.

While this coin fits within Gitler & Tal XVI, Philistian-styled with oriental heads on the obverse, the head on type 23D is janiform. The style of the obverse may be significant for the attribution of this type to a particular mint. Nearly all of the pieces published by Gitler & Tal with a similar obverse head display the hair in curved bands centered around the ear. On the present coin, the hair is displayed in nearly horizontal bands. The only other instance of this style is Gitler & Tal VI.4D, an issue from Gaza. While this may only be a coincidence, it is possible that this heretofore unassigned type may eventually be attributed to Gaza. For another issue with this same reverse type, see Gitler & Tal XIII.5D, with the head of Athena on the obverse.