Ma'ah-Obol - Yadua Samaria 539 BC - 332 BC
| Silver | 0.61 g | - |
| Issuer | Satrapy of Samaria (Achaemenid Satrapies) |
|---|---|
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 539 BC - 332 BC |
| Value | 1 Ma'ah-Obol = 1⁄24 Shekel |
| Currency | Shekel (539-332 BCE) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 0.61 g |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-10 |
| Numista | N#98611 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Owl standing to right, head facing to right between the owl and inscription there is an ear of barely, all within an incuse square
Lettering: ΑΘΕ ידוע
Translation: Yadua
Comment
Published by Spaer as a Yehud type, Meshorer and Qedar reclassified it as a coin of Samaria. The name Yedua is known to have been used by the heigh priest family in Jerusalem, but Meshorer and Qedar also suggest the possibility it is the name of a Samaritan governor.David Hendin Guide to Biblical Coins Fifth Edition, p 109
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Ma'ah-Obol - Yadua (Samaria) coin is that it features an image of a lion, which was a symbol of the Achaemenid Empire, on one side, and an inscription in Aramaic on the other side, indicating the coin's denomination and the name of the satrap (governor) who issued it. This coin was used in the Satrapy of Samaria, which was a province of the Achaemenid Empire, and it is a rare example of a coin that has survived from that time period.
