★ A very rare weight of three shekels ★

LEVANTINE REGION, 4th-1st centuries BC. Weight of 3 Shekels (Bronze, 11x16x20 mm, 30.17 g). 𐤔𐡒𐤋𐤍 ('šqln' in Aramaic). Rev. Blank. Cf. J. Elayi and A.G. Elayi: Recherches sur les poids phéniciens. Paris, 1997, no. 21 ff. (rectangular Phoenician weights) & pl. XXXIX, no. 7 (rectangular weight in the Israel Museum). A very rare and intriguing piece. Somewhat corroded, otherwise, fair.

The inscription on the obverse, which means 'shekels', and the rectangular shape of the weight firmly place it in the Eastern Levant, most likely Judaea or Phoenicia. The weight of 30 grams roughly corresponds to that of three shekels (at 11 grams each).