Phoenicia Byblus Shekel

Some time back I posted pictures of a few reproduction (Fakes) that I picked up during a visit to Lebanon (Byblos).

Well after a long wait, I finally found one that I will treasure for a long time:

 

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Congratulations on finding your dream coin! I saw that in last night's auction. Watching Heritage Live is always entertaining but the auctioneer's blather is annoying. They didn't have a large number of ancients and many went unsold... unsurprising since many estimates were very optimistic and some had reserves which were at estimate!

Here's one I picked up in a Stacks auction (August 2014 ANA auction). It needs a reshoot because although toned, it's not as brown as in these images.


PHOENICIA, Byblos. Uzzibaal. 350-335 BCE
AR dishekel, 13.3 gm
Obv: Three hoplites with shields in war galley left, roaring lion's head on prow, waves below galley; hippocamp left below; Z O (N O?) in field
Rev: Phoenician inscription; lion attacking bull left
Ref: SNG Copenhagen 132, BMC 26.95, 4.

The writeup is here.

 

Great Coin TIF and a very nice write-up too. I also bought the Sher Ali Afghan mohur last night which could be the highest graded mohur from his reign. Was quite pleased with my buys but wish I had got the Russian Catherine the Great 5 Roubles. Went too high for me

 

Beautiful coins, both with lovely Phoenician inscriptions!

 

Both are lovely coins, congrats.

 

I love the designs of these coins and it looks like you have a very nice one @1934 Wreath Crown. Congrats. And I've always been envious of that coin @TIF. Good eye for great coins.

 

Awesome looking coin, congrats on your winnings.

 

I reaaaaaallllllyyy like those coins, look at one of my terracotta..one of them....this is one of your rower in the ship..

 

So nice Now what's your home address, when do you leave for work, and do you leave the key under the front doormat?

 

Wreath Crown, You may already know but the inscription is (from right to left as with all Semitic scripts) OZBAL MLK GBL {'Ozba'al, King (Malik) of Gebal (Byblos)}. Vowels are largely left out as in Hebrew. The best overall book for Phoenician coins that is up to date is Oliver Hoover's "Handbook of Coins of the Southern Levant"(Volume 10 of the series). Yours is his #133 and listed as scarce. The best book just on Byblos is Josette and A. G. Elayi's book "A Monetary and Political History of the Phoenician City of Byblos." Ba'l (BAL) is the Semitic word for Lord and is almost always specific to a location such as Byblos, Tyre, or Sidon. It is often preceded by an article which predicates existence in the sense of "Baal of Tyre exists." In this case it is part of the king's name in the same way "el" in a Hebrew name refers to God such as Ezekiel.

 

Hahahahahaha.....So sorry Sallent but I live many-a-Mile from you.....moved to Dubai many years back and I guess you could say I'm permanently settled there (or as permanently as one can). But will let you know when I bring all my coins from the bank and leave for a lonnnng vacation )

 

I knew some of that but a lot of it is educational for me too. Thanks.

 

Those are 2 beautifull Phoenician Shekels compared to my ieni mini 1/8 shekel

 

Has there been die study confirming that the stippled look on the fields of these was in fact a feature of the dies? Many coins show it. I'm with Andres2 as owner of a 1/8.

 

Incredible.

 

Good morning or evening or whatever time it is.

I have come across 2 phoenician shekels, pic attached.
Found by a lady over 20 years ago on a beach in Brighton UK.

Can someone please give me some info regarding the rarity, and value of these coins. I know very little regarding coins.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Daniel

 

More pics of the coins

 

i´m thunderstruck

 

Welcome @Daniel Fulton. I do not know much about these, so I'll let others comment. I would say, however, I'm always leery when someone says

. What little I know is that lady would have had the value of the coins appraised.

 

I would of thought so too. If you knew the history of this woman you may understand a little better.
Im sure most coins discussed on this site are "discovered somewhere", nothing leery about a beach. Is there?
I have contacted a coin appraiser here in cape town for more info as well.