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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;TIF, post: 2228066, member: 56859&quot;]<b>M</b> is for <b>M</b>urex snail:</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae43f8_f1c7411f7da140f1b37c8bba69f5a189.jpg_srb_p_1000_509_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srb" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><b>PHOENICIA, Tyre.&nbsp; Trebonianus Gallus</b></p><p>CE 251-253</p><p>Æ dichalkon, 25 mm, 13.39 gm, 6h</p><p>Obv:&nbsp;&nbsp; IMP C C VIBIVS TREBO GALLVS AVG;&nbsp; laureate and draped bust right</p><p>Rev:&nbsp;&nbsp; COL TYRO METR[O?];&nbsp; serpent-entwined baetyl; <b>murex shell</b> to left, palm tree to right</p><p>Ref:&nbsp; RPC IX online 1961; Rouvier 2476; Babelon 2296; AUB –; BMC –.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>The murex shell represents Phoenicia’s namesake and prized product:&nbsp; purple dye.&nbsp; Manufactured from decomposed sea snails, the resulting purple dye is remarkably colorfast.&nbsp; Items dyed with Tyrian Purple in ancient times still retain their color today.&nbsp; Historical records indicate Phoenician purple dye was worth its weight in silver in some trading locales.&nbsp; Royal purple indeed; you’d have to be wealthy to afford a purple garment.</i></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae43f8_aaabf08f94784969aa7b5bbaac464075.jpg_srb_p_1000_497_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srb" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><b>PHOENICIA, Byblos.&nbsp; Uzibaal.&nbsp; 350-335 BCE</b></p><p>AR dishekel, 26 mm, 13.3 gm</p><p>Obv:&nbsp; Three hoplites with shields in war galley left, roaring lion&#039;s head on prow, waves below galley;&nbsp; hippocamp left below; <b>murex shell</b> beneath; Z O (N O?) in field</p><p>Rev:&nbsp; Phoenician inscription; lion attacking bull left</p><p>Ref:&nbsp; SNG Copenhagen 132, BMC 26.95, 4</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae43f8_ef50cf6ecae143e5a416a434a8a1288d.jpg_srb_p_1000_509_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srb" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><b>PHOENICIA, Tyre.&nbsp; Elagabalus</b></p><p>CE 218-222</p><p>AE29, 13.4 gm</p><p>Obv:&nbsp; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right</p><p>Rev:&nbsp; 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]; <b>murex shell</b> in upper field, palm tree to right</p><p>Ref:&nbsp; Rouvier 2375; BMC 409; AUB 245; Price &amp; Trell 748</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/ae43f8_d70aeb87baa44bd3b226debe33b7acc6.jpg_srb_p_1000_510_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srb" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><b>PHOENICIA, Tyre</b></p><p>Valerian I (CE 253-260)</p><p>Æ28.5 mm, 12.2 gm</p><p>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, <b>murex shell</b> to lower right</p><p>Ref: Rouvier 2501; BMC 470; cf Price &amp; Trell 748</p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i></i>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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