I have been wanting one of these for awhile, but the prices seem to be sky high, even on bad examples. Are they rare, or is it just the Biblical tie that brings up the values?
They're common coins but just like the "tribute penny" and others, prices are inflated significantly by the biblical association.
What is a fair price for a decent, not great one? Seems like most I've seen are nearing a grand.. some maybe $600 or so
Depends on the quality and also depends on how proud the owner is of it. Like Red Spork says, its a very common coin. Like all "biblical coins", its only this association that gives them much value. Stay away from slabbed examples, as those are sky high and stupid non-ancient collectors will pay it. A decent example should be found around $500. If you want to get fancier about it, try to get those with AD dates. "Shekels of Tyre" is what the temple required taxes to be paid in, (to assure quality). However, Tyre stopped making shekels in the 100 BC's. Rome allowed new shekels of "Tyre" to be struck in Jerusalem afterwards. So kill two birds, get a Shekel of Tyre, but one minted in Jerusalem itself. Just buy one with an equivalent AD date.
Hi ... ummm, does this help? (are these the babies you're talking about?) https://cngcoins.com/Search.aspx?PAGE_NUM=&PAGE=1&TABS_TYPE=2&CONTAINER_TYPE_ID=3&IS_ADVANCED=1&ITEM_DESC=Shekel of Tyre&ITEM_IS_SOLD=1&SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_1=1&SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_3=1&SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_2=1
This slabbed, lower grade example sold for 420 today http://www.ebay.com/itm/TYRE-AR-SHE...Fb7jeUMaeC1sIyX%2Bl4c%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
Hehe, I bought it. I was trying to get some other feedback to see if it was a decent deal. I like slabbed, and I have really been wanting one of these. I have not found many more in that range, so I am happy
If you can find me a decent example for $500, not to mention one with KP, I would be much obliged. These coins are priced based on artistry, which varies greatly, as well as date and monogram. Collectors pay a large premium for dates associated with important historical events. For example, Tyrian year 1 = 126/5 BC, Year 126 = 1BC/1CE and 159 = 33/34CE. Premiums also come from rare dates vs common and re-engraved overdates. There are also very rare examples with countermarks that also demand a premium. I would say you did well jwitten!
Here are a few of mine that are a bit harder to find. Half Shekel, Tyre LA (Year 1) 6.43 g Tyre Mint 126/125 BCE O: Head of Herakles (Melqart) R: Eagle standing left; ΤΥΡΟΥ ΙΕΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΣΥΛΟΥ "Of Tyre the Holy and City of Refuge." around; Date LA to left; Monogram FP to right. BMC Phoenicia page 250 #213 lists only one Year 1 half shekel, that one with M monogram. DCA lists this date as R3, the highest rarity rating. Unique with with FP monogram. Glossy, dark chocolate find patina. Shekel, Tyre PHOENICIA, Tyre. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. AR Shekel (27mm, 13.82 g). Dated CY 51 (76/75 BC). The letter A may have been engraved over another letter. O: Laureate bust of Melkart right R: Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond over right wing; to left, AN (the date on this coin is very likely re-engraved) above club; D to right; b between legs. - No. 129 in Cohen's 2014 Supplement. Shekel 14.29 g, Year 159, 33/34. PHOENICIA, Tyre. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. AR Shekel (13.10 g, 12h). Dated CY 92 (35/4 BC). Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow, with palm frond over shoulder; to left, ЧB (date) above club; monogram to right, beth between legs. Extremely rare with star countermark. (7 or 8 known to exist? Unique with this date.) Shekels and Half Shekels of Tyre began being issued as autonomous silver coins in 126/125 BCE after gaining freedom from Seleucid domination that year. Although similar in style to the Seleucid coinage, the most obvious change was the King's bust being replaced with the city's chief god Melqart. They have become highly desired due to their being the money of choice for payments to the Jerusalem Temple. The half shekel was the required yearly tribute to the temple for every Jewish male over the age of 20. Ed Cohen notes in Dated Coins of Antiquity, that the minting of Tyre shekels or, more specifically, half shekels, ended at the onset of the Jewish Revolt in 65/66 and the minting of the Jewish Revolt shekels then begins. This, along with other compelling evidence, has led many, including me, to believe the later "KP" shekels were struck south of Tyre.
Wow, very nice collection! I have really been wanting one, and am looking forward to getting it in hand. I know it's not the nicest example, but I wasn't sure I wanted to pony up the cash for one of those!
Cool pick up for the price @jwitten !!! And fantastic posts @Nemo !!! I tried to grab one in slightly higher condition (a good VF ?) and found it going over $1,200----which blew my bid out of the water and I had to let it go to someone who obviously wanted that Shekal struck at Tyre prior to the birth of Christ more than I did...I sold an example a bit better (my former coin) years ago and it cost me about $700.000 shipped back then----so I think you did quite well too!!
I just got the coin today, and ALREADY sold it for almost twice what I paid. Wow, I knew these were hot, but that surprised me.
I have one of these.... Literally JUST found out what in the world it was!!! How much is this one worth??
Odds favor it is worth nothing because there are more fakes of this coin than there are real ones. With a photo we might be able to say it is a fake but the best fakes don't get spotted easily in photos so that is why we tell people to buy only from a reliable and knowledgeable source. If you want it appraised, try to sell it to an ancient specialist dealer. If he says no, it is not because there is no market for real ones.
Most of the shekels of Tyre do command a premium not because they are scarce but because of their "Biblical" association. There are a lot of fakes around I saw one in Edmonton over 40 years ago. I think these "coins" where a part of some promotion but I do not know what that promotion was. It may have had something to do with the large number of sword and sandal films made about that time. I have one Tyrian Shekel. It is Plated in Dated Coins of Antiquity Shekels of Tyre by E Cohen It is 2.13 No 34 which is dated 114/113 B.C. It has the letter Alef between the legs of the eagle on the reverse. Until I brought this coin to the authors attention it was unpublished 14.29 grms 27 mm
