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Phoenicia. Tyre, after 126 BC. AR Shekel-Tetradra

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:350.00 USD Estimated At:700.00 - 900.00 USD
Phoenicia. Tyre, after 126 BC. AR Shekel-Tetradra
<Our item number 115708><B>Phoenicia. Tyre, after 126 BC. AR Shekel-Tetradrachm &#40;14.3 g&#41;, struck 89/88 BC.</B> Laureate, skin-clad bust of Herakles-Melkart right. <I>Reverse</I>: Eagle standing left on prow, palm branch at shoulder, club and date in fields &#40;year 38&#41;. BMC p. 242, 132; Hendin 917. Good centering with virtually complete devices. Sharp, even strike, softly lustrous and choice. <B>NGC graded Uncirculated.</B> <BR><BR>Even in its waning years of influence and power, Tyre&#39;s signature coinage of silver shekels continued to function not only as a local currency, but a regional one as well. Its lengthy history of regular issuance, plus its reputation for consistency of silver fineness and weight, served it well, not only in commerce but in other respects in addition. <BR><BR>The ancient custom among Jews of giving a half a shekel to God &#40;Exodus 30:11-16&#41;, evolved into an annual payment or &#34;tax&#34; made to the Temple in Jerusalem. Furthermore, records indicate that such payments were acceptable only in Tyrian shekels or half shekels -- again, because of their reliable weight and purity. So to modern eyes, the irony of the situation is that the Judean priesthood, servants of a monotheistic faith, whose Deity spurned idolaters and forbade the worship of graven images, in essence accepted the tithes on behalf of Jehovah with coin bearing pagan devices and deities! <BR>Estimated Value &#36;700 - 900. <I><BR><I>Ex Shirley Barr Sage Collection, published in her</I> Biblical Numismatics: Thirty Pieces of Silver<I>, pl. XXII, no.14.</I> <BR><BR>Our item number 115708<BR><IMAGES><P ALIGN="CENTER"><IMG SRC="http://www.goldbergcoins.net/liveauction/47jpegs/115708.jpg"> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.goldbergcoins.net/liveauction/47jpegs/115708N2.jpg"> </P></IMAGES>