PERSIA, ACHAEMENID KINGS XERXES II - ARTAXERXES II AR SIGLOS, 455 - 420 B.C.E.
Carradice type IVa, Fine+, 16.4mm, 4.87 grams
Obverse: Persian King running with drawn bow and dagger
Reverse: Incuse punch
Nice affordable, full weight example. Some flatness on head, but fantastic irridescent patina and clear quiver and knife with guard, you usually don't see on this issue.
Biblical Coin which circulated around the time of King Ahaseurus and Queen Esther. This denomination is 1/3 of a Persian Shekel. This amount is probably what Nehemia was refering to when he asked for a 1/3 shekel Temple donation, i.e. 1/3 of a Persian shekel was exactly the same weight as 1/2 of a Judaean shekel, the half shekel Temple tax (Machazit HaShekel) at the time.
