PHILISTIA (PALESTINE), Overstruck Drachm

PHILISTIA (PALESTINE), Uncertain mint. Mid 5th century-333 BC. AR Drachm (15mm, 3.95 g, 12h). Imitating Athens. Rotated 145 degrees and overstruck with same dies.
O: Helmeted head of Athena right
R: Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig left and crescent behind; all within incuse square.
-Cf. Gitler & Tal X.1D; HGC 10, –; CNG 82, lot 737 (same obverse die)

The Philistian coins belong to a stratum of autonomous municipal coinages that enabled daily trade without interference by the Persian administration. The Persian Empire did not care about the fiscal policy of its subjects, so long as the taxes were paid. Obviously, the provincials were free to choose their own coin-types. Like their Northern neighbors in Samaria and Jerusalem, the Philistians adopted the Attic coin standard, and a great many of their coins are imitations of the Attic coins circulating in the Levant.