"COIN OF THE MONTH" - SAMARIA AR MA'AH / OBOL "BAGABATAS", 4th CENTURY B.C.E.
Meshorer & Qedar SC 4, Sofaer 96, Very Fine+, 9.2mm, .61 gram, Struck Circa. 375 - 333 B.C.E.
Obverse: Persian satrap seated to right, inspecting arrow held in both hands, BT in Aramaic above right,date to left, bow to right below
Reverse: Persian king sacrificing bull, he holds its horn with his left hand, holding dagger to stab it in his right hand, bull stands to right with head facing left, Greek inscription BAΓABATAC (Bagabates) around, Θ in center
A RARE Samarian Ma'ah struck on EXCELLENT full weight metal (these are often corroded and underweight)! The obverse is especially well centered and the metal bright almost lustrous (photo exaggerates contrast).
While perhaps the finest example known was sold at Nomos see here for nearly $18,000 and side by side is a clearly superior specimen, our coin (greatly enlarged) quite holds its own in beauty, and is quite clear when held in hand.
