Order of the Date Numerals on the Sheqels of Tyre

Abstract

The order of writing Greek numerals for the year followed geographic patterns for most ancient
coins and in particular for the autonomous sheqels and half sheqels of Tyre. In 55/4 BCE, Tyrian
autonomous era year 72, the Greek letters forming the date on the silver Tyrian sheqels changed
order for the duration of these coins. Before this year, the order of the numerals matched that
on most other coins of Phoenicia. Afterward the order followed that on most coins struck in the
southern Levant. One application of this numerical history confirms the consensus that Tyre
struck all the sheqels and half sheqels naming the mint.