1/2 Ma'ah-Obol Samaria

Historical Context: This 1/2 Ma'ah-Obol originates from Samaria during its tenure as an Achaemenid Persian satrapy, spanning the period from 539 BC to 332 BC. Following Cyrus the Great's conquest of Babylon, the Persian Empire established a sophisticated administrative structure across its vast territories, including the Levant. Samaria, a significant administrative district, was permitted to strike its own fractional silver coinage for local economic transactions. These issues reflect a blend of imperial Persian influence and emerging local autonomy, serving the daily commercial needs of a region strategically vital to the Achaemenid control of the Near East, preceding the Hellenistic era ushered in by Alexander the Great.

Artistry: Given the broad date range and the coin's diminutive size (7mm), identifying a specific engraver is impossible. The artistic style is characteristic of Syro-Persian numismatics, often incorporating elements from both Greek and Achaemenid traditions. Common designs for Samarian fractional issues include obverse depictions of male heads, possibly representing local governors, satraps, or deities, and reverse motifs featuring animals like owls or eagles, or local symbols. The minute flan necessitated highly simplified yet recognizable iconography, often executed in a somewhat provincial but energetic style, drawing inspiration from contemporary Attic or Phoenician prototypes while maintaining a distinct local character.

Technical/Grading: Struck in silver, this tiny coin weighs 0.36 grams with a diameter of 7 millimeters. Due to its size and early minting technology, full strikes are rare. High-points, typically the most prominent features of the design (e.g., hair or facial features on a head, or musculature on an animal), are often weakly rendered or susceptible to wear. The flans are frequently irregular in shape and thickness, and strikes can be off-center, leading to partial designs. Planchet quality varies, and surface details may be obscured by minor pitting or corrosion common to ancient silver. Collectors should anticipate a degree of softness in the strike, particularly on the reverse, and focus on overall eye appeal and the legibility of the primary motifs.