Here is the latest coin in my 'Off the Beaten Path' provincial series, this time we travel to the ancient Phoenician city of Tyre. Time of Vespasian Æ19, 5.85g Tyre mint, 77-78 AD Obv: Turreted and veiled head of Tyche with palm, r. Rev: ΙΕΡΑ ΑΣΥ, ϹΓ (in field); galley, l.; Monogram ΤΥΡ and Phoenician letters לצר (‘of Tyre’) RPC 2069. Acquired from London Ancient Coins, November 2021. Tyre struck several small issues of pseudo-anonymous bronze coinage during the Flavian era in five denominations distinguished by size and reverse designs. This reverse featuring the iconic Phoenician galley was reserved for the small Æ19-20. The coins are dated by the Tyrian civic era starting in 126 BC. The present coin is dated year 203 (77-78 AD). Please post your ships or Phoenician coins!
The coins from these ancient shipping centers, with the reverse images showing the design of their war vessels, are interesting, @David Atherton. Here are two similar types from Tyre's neighboring Phoenician city to the north, Sidon (the dates are unclear on these examples): Phoenicia. Sidon. 52 BC-AD 43. Æ 14mm, 3.12 g Phoenicia. Sidon. 1st-2nd Centuries AD? Æ 22 mm, 9.67 g
This is my only Phoenician coin. It may not be rare or in very good condition but I still like it a lot because it’s Trajan and based on the condition it’s in I imagine it circulated among many different people during its day.
Sidon, 'Abdashtart II or Evagoras II,1/8th of shekel, AR 9 mm 0.48 g, mid-4th c. BC Obv.: IIII (RY 4), galley sailing r. Rev.: in incuse square, Persian king standing r. slaying standing lion, between them oo ('ayin 'ayin). Antiochos IV Epiphanes, AE 21 mm 6.86 g,Tyre, BC 174/3. Obv.: diademed head of Antiochos IV right. Rev.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANTIOXOY, stern of galley to left, in field date : LΘΛP (139 sel. = BC 174/3) Arados, AE, 2nd c. BC Obv.: Turreted and draped bust of Tyche to right, palm over shoulder Rev.: Poseidon reclining left on prow, crowning Athena on bow with wreath and holding sceptre, in r. field Phoenician 'aleph, Phoenician date below. Sidon, pseudo-autonomous AE , AD 87/8. Obv.: turreted and veiled head of Tyche, r.; in front, star and aphlaston Rev.: ΣΙΔΩΝΟΣ ΘΕΑΣ, above: ΗϘΡ (198 = AD 87/8), below: ΑϚ, galley sailing l. RPC II 2056
Nice Phoenician, David et al! I don't have anything Phoenician from the Flavian era but here are a range of others from Roman times: PHOENICIA, Arados. Trajan CY 375 (CE 116/7) Æ22, 9.65 g Obv: draped bust of Astarte-Europa right; before, small laureate and draped bust of Trajan Rev: bull charging left Reference: SNG Copenhagen 81; BMC 374 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 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, sailor throwing sack of sand overboard; 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. Gordian III CE 238-244 Æ trichalkon; 29mm, 18.10 g, 12h Obv: laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev: Dido standing left, holding transverse rule; to left, arched gate of Carthage on which mason sits and constructs; murex shell above; in exergue, man digging right with pick Ref: Rouvier 2430; AUB –; BMC –. Fine, earthen patina. Very rare. PHOENICIA, Tyre. Valerian I (CE 253-260) Æ28.5 mm, 12.2 gm Obv: IMP CP LIC VALERIANVS AVG; radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev: COL TVRO METRO; the building of Carthage: Dido standing left, holding cubit ruler and scepter, surveying construction; mason above gate, worker with pick-axe digging before gate, murex shell to lower right Ref: Rouvier 2501; BMC 470; cf Price & Trell 748
This one is an anonymous issue for Tyre from the Antonine era, or from Septimius Severus' reign (the online sources were confusing to me). It came in a lot; it actually looks better than I was expecting, which is not saying much (yes, that is a temple on the reverse): Phoenicia, Tyre Æ 23 Autonomous, time of Antonine emperors / Septimius Severus CY 321 (195-196 A.D.)? [TYP]OY MHT[POPOLEωC], laureate head of Meqart-Herakles right / [ΚΟΙΝΟΥ ΦΟΙΝ]ΙΚΗϹ, octastyle temple, [Α]Κ[Τ(Ι)] in exergue. RPC IV online 5662 (see notes). (10.47 grams / 23 mm) eBay Nov. 2021 Notes: Most sources date this to 2nd century, the Adoptive or Antonine emperors, but AKT may indicate Septimius Severus reign (See CNG Auction #25; Lot 62025 (via Wildwinds)). Other references: RPC IV online 5662; BMC Phoenicia 361-366; Lindgren I 2367; Sear GIC 5213; Rouvier 2246; AUB 201-2; GM 767, no. 795.
TYRE PHOENICIA TYRE AE20 7g 76 BCE Turret hd Tyche palm branch - Galley prow volute aphlaston at stern Phoenican letters BMC 26 Ex: @Bing PHOENICIA TYRE 1/16 shekel 5th-4th BCE 10mm 0.47g hippocamp l over waves - owl with crook flail Sear Greek 5916.BMC Tyre 43 Ex: @Valentinian
Here is an unusual reverse type from Phoenicia: AE17-16. 4.13 grams. Berytos (Beruit), Phoenicia. Struck 87/6 - 82/1 BC [Hoover] Turreted bust of Tyche right Poseidon standing in car drawn left by four hippocamps (indistinct letters above) Sear Greek p. 522 type of 6019 Hoover X 109 (page 30) 87/6 - 82/1 BC. McClean III Phoenicia 12. Weber --. SNG Copenhagen VIII Berytus 83 "second century BC" ex @Blachernista
Here's my humble one from Tyre, with Tyche and the galley. It was struck during the time of Commodus in 112 AD. BMC 320.
Very nice new pickup. I don’t have anything from Phoenicia in the Flavian era, but I love the tetradrachms from the Tyre mint in the 3rd Century: Macrinus, Phoenicia (Tyre), BI tetradrachm, (25 mm, 12.52 g). ΑΥΤ•ΚΑΙ•Μ•ΟΠ•CЄ• ΜΑΚΡΙΝΟC•CЄ• Laureate head of Macrinus to right./ Rev. Eagle with spread wings standing facing on club, head to left and holding wreath in beak; between the eagle's legs, murex shell. Prieur 1554. Caracalla, Tetradrachm, Phoenicia (Tyre) mint, (27mm., 13.70g) Laureate head r./Rev. Eagle standing facing on club r., head and tail l., holding wreath in beak; between legs, murex shell. Prieur 1535.
I love the type and have one. In general, I find the reverse of Phoenician coins to be more interesting that coins of most other locales. PHOENICIA, Berytos 1st century BCE Æ19.5, 5.9 gm Obv: Turreted head of Tyche right Rev: Poseidon standing left in quadriga drawn by four hippocamps Ref: SNG Copenhagen 83
