SYRIA. Phoenicia. Tyre. AR Shekel (14.31 gms), dated CY 10 (117/6 B.C.). NGC AU, Strike: 4/5 Surface: 3/5. Scratch. HGC-10, 357. Obverse: Laureate head of Melkart right, with lion skin around neck; Reverse: Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond in background; to left, LI (date) above club; ZB to right; Phoenician B between legs. Despite the off-center obverse strike, this Shekel displays an unusually complete bust of Melkart due to the broad flan. The reverse is almost perfectly centered and crisply detailed, with complete legends and date, though a short scratch is noted. The surfaces are of good metal quality despite a minor flan flaw, exhibiting a gentle luster and light tone. This beautiful example of the sought after "Shekel of Tyre" type is certain to please collectors of biblical coinage or eastern Greek issues more generally.
