Judaea, Yehud (Judah). Hezekiah. Silver 1/4 Ma'ah Obol (0.18 g), ca. 333/2-302/1 BCE. Indistinct, but probably a facing head within circular border. Rev. 'HPHH YHZQYH' (Yehezqio the governor - Hezekiah), owl standing right, head facing; in lower right field, Greek letter A. Cf. TJC 22 (without Greek A); cf. Hendin 1069 (same). Toned. Fair / Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,000 - UP
Struck to the Attic standard favored for the coinages of Alexander the Great, the reverse type depicts the Athenian owl, partly to signal the use of the Attic weight standard but also looking back to the traditions of the Yehud coinage of the Persian period. The abandonment of the former Persic standard has led to the conclusion that the type postdates the Macedonian conquest of Judaea. The coins of the Macedonian period also give Hezekiah his official title as ha pecha, the governor.
From the S. Moussaieff Collection, This lot has been officially exported from Israel through the Israel Antiquities Authority.