Philistia (Palestine), uncertain mint AR Obol. Gaza(?), circa 450-333 BC. Laureate and bearded male head (Ba’al Arwad) to right / Owl standing facing, wings spread; olive spring and crescent to upper right, AΘE around, all within incuse square. Gitler & Tal XIV.29O = Sofaer 10 (Gaza, same dies); Roma E-44, 333; Roma E-79, 473; HGC 10, -. 1.00g, 10mm, 7h.

Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

Featuring a reverse type echoing the famous dekadrachms of Athens, this extremely rare obol of Philistia is a hybrid imitation. The helmeted head of Athena that is displayed on the obverse of coins of Athens has been replaced with a likeness of Ba’al Arwad, who is more usually found on the coins of Arados in Phoenicia.