★ An unusually attractive double shekel from Sidon ★

PHOENICIA. Sidon. Time of Ba`alšillem (Sakton) I-Ba’ana, Circa 425-401 BC. Double Shekel (Silver, 27 mm, 28.33 g, 12 h). Phoenician galley to left before city wall with five towers; above, 𐤌 ('m' in Phoenician); below, two lions standing left and right, respectively. Rev. The Persian Great King, raising his right hand in salute and holding bow in his left, standing left in fast chariot driven by a driver to left; above, 𐤌𐤁𐤏 ('mb'' in Phoenician); below, incuse goat running left, head turned back to right; all within shallow circular incuse. Elayi & Elayi Group III.1.r., 248-51. HGC 10, 234 (Ba'na'). Very rare and in exceptional condition, an unusually attractive example for this difficult issue. Struck on a somewhat short flan as usual, otherwise, about extremely fine.