Featured Devastated SYRIA

A relatively late example:

Arcadius, A.D. 395-408
AE22, 5.7 grams, Antioch mint

Obverse: D N ARCADI-VS P F AVG
Rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right

Reverse: GLORIA ROMANORVM
Emperor standing facing, head right, holding standard and globe

Mintmark: ANT

Reference: RIC IX Antioch 68C, pg. 294

 

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I chose the lighthouse of Latakia (Laodikea ad Mare). Obverse shows Septimius Severus and his son Caracalla.

 

SYRIA, uncertain (formerly / possibly attributed to Egyptian pharaoh Nektanebo II)
3rd century CE
AE11, 4.7 gm
Obv: Ram leaping left, head reverted
Rev: Scales; countermark with helmeted bust right
Ref: Weiser 1 (Nektanebo II of Egypt)

 

I bought this coin some years before the "Arab Winter" Philip I Ae 8 Assaria McAlee 977 var Obv. Bust of Philip I right laureate draped and cuirassed seen from back. Rv.Bust of Tyche right. 15.39 grms 28 mm

 

Uhhhh....folks....many coin collectors and antiquities buyers have benefited from the Syrian war. I am ashamed to admit I am most likely one of them. Please look at these clickable before and after satellite photos of ancient Apamea here: https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2016/02/the-looting-of-syrias-archaeological-treasures/459996/ I wonder how many coins pictured in this Cointalk thread are "spoils of war." Probably a couple, perhaps even more?

 

How awful.

 

An incalculable loss to the culture and history of humanity.

It has been said that ancient Syria is dead, and I'm afraid to a large degree that is all too true.

Sadly, war has no regard for human life, culture or history. This has been a constant throughout history, and given human nature, will continue on as long as people are motivated by nationalism, greed, ignorance and hatred.

 

The devastation in the region, especially human but also archaeological, is truly heartbreaking.

Syria through the ages:

Demetrios I tetradrachm minted in Antioch (162-154 BCE)


Augustus tetradrachm minted in Antioch (5 BCE):


Caracalla provincial from Emesa, c. 216-17:


Anonymous Antioch issue c. 310-312:


Maurice Tiberius Antioch dated 592:


Abd al-Malik, issued in Emesa/Homs c. 680-690:


Nur ad-Din ibn Zengi (1146-1174), Aleppo:


Badr al-Din Lu'lu (1233-1259), Mosul, issued 1233-34:

 

Those photos of the Milky Way as the back setting of the destruction caused by the war in Syria certainly gives one pause to reflect on humanity's destructive tendencies within the setting of our world's cosmic place in the universe.

 

What a shame...


Alexander I Balas (152/1 B.C. - 145 B.C.) Æ Denomination B (double). Apameia on the Orontes mint. Dated 150/49 B.C.
Obverse: Diademed head of Alexander I right.
Reverse: AΠAMEΩN; Zeus standing left, holding Corinthian helmet and sceptre; monogram and ΓΞΡ (date) to left; c/m: palm fond within incuse rectangle.
Reference: SC 1804a; HGC 9, 904; DCA 133.
7.23g; 22mm.