The reverse of these tiny 1/16 Shekels from Sidon is supposed to depict a Persian king or hero about to slay a lion. However, on most coins I have seen, the hero/king doesn't look to be in a commanding position at all, with the lion seemingly getting in a solid right hook to the former's chest. It was, therefore, oddly satisfying to find a coin on which the human figure seems to be "winning". On this one, the king/hero seems to have the lion held mid-air in one hand, and is about to stab it, while the latter had turned tail, flailing around helplessly. On second thought, there is some chance that the crafty lion could be executing a 180 degree turn to land a full-force martial arts punch on our poor king/hero's chest. I guess I'll keep looking. In the meantime, I would love to see the ones other members have. Phoenicia, Sidon, Time of Baalshallim II (401-366 BC), AR 1/16 Shekel, HGC 10 (0.76 g, 9 mm) Obverse: Phoenician galley to left; Phoenician B above, waves below Reverse: Persian king or hero standing right, holding dagger in right hand, fighting lion standing to left on its hind legs
You're right, the hero king definitely has the upper hand on your coin! Singlehandedly, no less. The fight on mine is still undecided. Is that lion wearing boxing gloves? Every now and then the Great King would even take a stab at griffins:
Wow! The griffin is doing even better than the lion. That mean uppercut into the armpit looks instant KO. :-D
This one could go into a martial arts manual. The classic pressure point strike to the underarm followed by a right punch to the head. :-D
1/16 Shekel - Tyre Tyre 1/16 shekel 10mm 0.47g hippocamp l over waves - owl with crook flail Sear Greek 5916.BMC Tyre 43 5th-4th BCE
Very fun thread and cool con Amit! Mine reminds me of a big brother stiff arming his kid brother's head to stop his punches from landing: Here's my humble addition:
A fraction of a second after the crafty lion has kicked that soccer ball: The lion also seems to be holding a rather large shield in the event of a knife attack.
Two 1/16th shekels of Sidon. The type can be found in Persepolis doors in Iran (early 5th c. BC) : and this theme has Assyrian origins. Here, relief from Nineveh showing Assurbanipal slaying wounded lion, during a royal lion hunt in a paradise (7th c. BC) :
This series has confused me, as I've seen very similar coins attributed to either Sidon or Samaria. At the time I purchased these, I believed that the "O" signified Samaria (or a Samarian ruler) and the IIIIII on the Sidon coin indicated the year, and hence the rule of Straton I. I'm starting to believe that all of these issues are either Sidon or "roughly that area". While I believe the attribution of my "Sidon" coin, I'm now doubting my "Samaria" coin. In addition, the "stretching" on the coin makes me wonder if it's a fouree. Samaria 'Middle Levantine' Series. Circa 375-333 BCEAR Obol 9.7mm 0.65g Phoenician galley left ('b' in Phoenician) above, waves below. R: Persian king or hero, holding dagger in his right hand, standing right, grasping lion standing right, head to left, at mane; in field, O; all within incuse square. Meshorer & Qedar 199 Ex Ars Coin Wien Phoenicia, Sidon AR 1/16 Shekel`Abd`aštart (Straton) I dated RY 6 = 337/6 BCE 0.86g, 9mm, 12h. Phoenician galley to left; IIIIII above, waves below / Persian king or hero, holding dagger and standing to right, fighting lion standing to left; ['B] (in Phoenician) between; all within incuse square. E&E-S Group IV.5.4.c; DCA 866; HGC 10, 263 Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung 2012 Ex Roma 2021
This lion is winding up his right paw for a counter attack: PHOENICIA, Sidon. Tennes. Circa 351-347 BC. AR Sixteenth Shekel (10 mm, 0.72g). Phoenician galley / Persian king or hero, holding dagger in right hand, standing right, fighting lion standing left on its hind legs; all within incuse square.
The two letters between the figures read downwards Taw Ayin, the initials of King Tennes not Ba'alshillem.
Thank you, @Darius590! I will update the attribution in my records and above. I appreciate your sharing of this information.
