I did pretty well in Frank Robinson's latest auction and thought I'd show off my latest acquisitions. First off is this didrachm of Tyre: Phoenicia, Tyre. AR didrachm. c.360-332 BC. Obverse: Melqarth riding hippocamp right, waves and dolphin below. Reverse: Owl facing, crook and flail behind, numeral 3 to right. Cf. SNG Cop. 306 ff., cf. Sear Greek Coins 5914-15. Tyre was one of the main cities of the Phoenician civilization. It was already in existence by 1350 BC, when it is mentioned in letters to the Egyptian pharaoh. Tyre drew its wealth from maritime trading, including valuable purple cloth dyed with extract from a local marine snail, and founded a number of colonies across the Mediterranean, including Carthage. The city is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible; it was the home of King Hiram and the notorious Jezebel, and Jesus is said to have traveled and preached in the vicinity of Tyre. It was conquered by the Achaemenid Persian empire in 539 BC and remained subject to Persia until the city was taken by Alexander the Great after a lengthy siege in 332 BC. The city continued to be important into Roman times, and is still inhabited today. The obverse of the coin is thought to depict Melqarth, an important local god who was later identified with Heracles. The numbers on the reverse may indicate regnal years of a local king, as various numbers up to 17 are recorded. The crook and flail are symbols of kingship, which are often seen in art of Tyre's Egyptian neighbors (check out what the pharaoh is holding in his hands in most depictions). This is a very thick (almost 5mm) and very irregularly oval coin. It reminds me of the typical Achaemenid siglos, except for having designs on both sides. Clearly the Achaemenid Persians never bought into the whole "coin=round" idea. Though hardly a gem coin, I think it is quite attractive- all the design elements are clear and reasonably centered, and the artistic style is distinctly Phoenician. Share your Tyre coins, or hippocamps, or Frank Robinson wins, whatever you can tie in.
that is a very interesting coin. I have never seen one like that before. thanks also for the great writeup. I have won exactly 3 coins in Frank's auctions, 2 last year and one in this most recent auction.
I liked that one and bid but was not the underbidder. While the flan is small, the centering makes the most of it. Congratulations.
Ooooh, a wonderful type, @Parthicus! I've come so close to bidding on a few of those. Someday. Meanwhile, here are some Phoenicians currently living at my house: Tyre: PHOENICIA, Tyre. Julia Maesa CE 218-224/5 AE 27, 12.71g (11h) Obv: IVLIA MAE - SA AV[G] Draped bust right, wearing stephane Rev: TVRIORVM Dido (?) standing left on deck of galley sailing right, extending right hand and holding cornucopia in left; to left, helmsman bending left over rudder (?); to right, sailor extending right hand and holding curved staff in left; stern decorated with a shield and aphlaston, [two murex shells] in exergue Ref: CNG e320, 12 Feb. 2014, lot 323 (same dies). Rouvier 2408 PHOENICIA, Tyre. Trebonianus Gallus CE 251-253 Æ dichalkon, 25 mm, 13.39 gm, 6h Obv: IMP C C VIBIVS TREBO GALLVS AVG; laureate and draped bust right Rev: COL TYRO METR[O?]; serpent-entwined baetyl; murex shell to left, palm tree to right Ref: RPC IX online 1961; Rouvier 2476; Babelon 2296; AUB –; BMC –. PHOENICIA, Tyre. Elagabalus CE 218-222 AE29, 13.4 gm Obv: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: Dido building Carthage; she stands to front before the arched gate of the city, looking left, holding a rule and transverse sceptre; above the gate, a mason at work, [below, a man digging with pick]; murex shell in upper field, palm tree to right Ref: Rouvier 2375; BMC 409; AUB 245; Price & Trell 748 https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancients-the-building-of-carthage.254625/ Berytos: PHOENICIA, Berytos. 1st century BCE. Æ19.5, 5.9 gm. Hippocamp quadriga! Byblos: (Needs a reshoot; the coin doesn't have a brownish hue although it is toned.) PHOENICIA, Byblos. Uzibaal. 350-335 BCE. AR dishekel https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancients-a-coin-from-the-purple-people.250752/
I have gotten several from Frank. I always walk away very happy with my winnings. He seems to have a great eye, accurately assesses the coins, and has a great variety that I enjoy adding to my weird collecting habits... These are my recent two: Carthage AE 31mm 220-215 BCE 2nd Punic War Tanit Horse Palm Pumic th (S inside T) RR Victoriatus Jupiter Victory Traphy VF Craw 53-1 Syd 83
