PERSIA, ACHAEMENID KINGS XERXES II - ARTAXERXES II AR SIGLOS, 455 - 420 B.C.E.
Carradice type IVa, Very Fine, 14.8mm, 5.52 grams
Obverse: Persian King running with drawn bow and dagger
Reverse: Incuse punch
An unusually large portrait WITH a beard. Of very interesting style!
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 likely what Nehemia was refering to when he requested 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.
