PERSIA, ACHAEMENID KINGS XERXES II - ARTAXERXES II AR SIGLOS, 420 - 375 B.C.E.
Carradice type IVb, Very Fine, lightly toned 16.5mm, 5.42 grams
Obverse: Persian King running with drawn bow and dagger
Reverse: Incuse punch with countermark
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.
