Left facing Ladies

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I only have the one left facing lady for now =)

Sicily, Syracuse, Agathokles (317-289 BC), AR Tetradrachm

17.29g
25mm (approx)
Head of Arethusa facing left wearing earring, hair wreathed in grain, three dolphins around, rev. quadriga galloping left, triskeles above, ypaoin in exergue (SNG ANS, no. 633; SNG {Copenhagen}, no. 753), very fine.

 

Cool thread and great coins @arizonarobin . This one might be pushing the boundary of ancient and medieval but this is the only coin that attended my wedding so I give it a pass.

England, Tudor Dynasty
Elizabeth I (1558-1603)
AR Sixpence, London mint, Struck 1575
Dia.: 26 mm
Wt.: 2.92
Obv.: ELIZABETH D G ANF FR ET HI REGINA: Crowned bust left
Rev.: POSVI DEV ADIVTOREM MEV: long cross over arms with date above
Ref.: Seaby 2563

 

I wonder... Rome went through three nasty wars with Carthage from 264 - 146 BCE. Rome HATED Carthage with a passion, and was almost obliterated out of history during the 2nd Punic War with Hannibal. Later, Rome EXTERMINATED Carthage in 146 BCE, killing virtually every one in Carthage, and selling the few survivors into slavery. Even the Roman General Scipio Aemilianus was sickened at the brutality he was ordered to execute onto the Carthaginians in 146 BCE.

All of the Carthage Coins (50+) that I have, show the Obverse facing LEFT, especially the Carthage city Goddess, Tanit. Even, my Mercenary War / Libyan Revolt coins are all left. In fact, I try to attribute any Left facing Obv. However, I do not even bother attributing the Obv of my Carthage coins as "Left", as they always are.

I understand Rome was generally superstitious and avoided Left as a direction. Their word for left was Sinister, which has negative meanings down to today...

Very few of my 200+ Roman Republic coins are Left facing.

Interesting that two clashing Empires and Cultures (hating each other), had opposing directions on the obverses of their coinage.

Even a seldom seen MALE head on a Carthage coin is LEFT facing...

Carthage Zeugitana 4th-3rd C BCE Male Head Horse



Carthage Zeugitania Libyan Revolt AR Shekel 24mm 7.34g 241-238 BCE Wreathed Tanit Horse stndg control mark and Punic M SNG Cop 236



Zeugitania Carthage 400-350 BCE Æ unit 15.3 mm, 2.7g Tanit l earring necklace - Horse r palm tree two pellets r MAA 18a

Just an observation.