Log in or Sign up
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
Melqart
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="DonnaML, post: 4635276, member: 110350"]Melqart, also spelled Melkart (meaning "King of the City" in Phoenician) was the tutelary or patron god of the Phoenician city of Tyre. Temples to him were built not only in Tyre but in various Phoenician colonies including Carthage and Gades (Cadiz in Spain). See <a href="https://www.ancient.eu/Melqart/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.ancient.eu/Melqart/" rel="nofollow">https://www.ancient.eu/Melqart/</a> . The Greeks, and later the Romans, identified him with Herakles/Hercules, and he appears as such on numerous Roman provincial coins: a search for "Melqart" in RPC online yields 200 results -- many of them, but not all, issued in Tyre itself -- under every emperor from Augustus through Trajan, as well as under Gordian III and Trebonianus Gallus. (Of course, there are volumes of RPC that remain unpublished, either in print or online.)</p><p><br /></p><p>I recently purchased, and received, a silver tetradrachm of Trajan with Melqart on the reverse, issued in Tyre in 100 AD. Unlike some examples I've seen on which the Hercules connection is carried to the extent of showing Melqart with an enormous, bull-like head and neck, reminiscent of a comic book character, he looks almost "normal" on this coin:</p><p><br /></p><p>Trajan AR Tetradrachm, 100 AD, Phoenicia, Tyre. Obv. Laureate head of Trajan right; behind, ear of grain in left field; to right, club in right field; below, eagle with folded wings standing right, ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙϹ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ / Rev. Laureate bust of Melqart (as Herakles) right, lion’s skin tied at neck, ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤ Γ [= COS III]. RPC [<i>Roman Provincial Coinage</i>] Vol. III 3526 (2015); RPC Online at <a href="https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/3526" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/3526" rel="nofollow">https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/3526</a>; Prieur 1482 [Prieur, Michel and Karin, <i>Syro-Phoenician Tetradrachms</i> (London, 2000)]; McAlee 452 [McAlee, Richard, <i>The Coins of Roman Antioch</i> (2007)]. 27 mm., 14.25 g.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1146073[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The dark gray toning reminds me a little of the toning on some British silver coins and medals of the 17th and 18th centuries that I have or used to have. I'm sure I could make the coin all bright and shiny, but I like it this way! I also like the fact that the legends and all the other devices are complete, which often isn't the case on coins of this and similar types.</p><p><br /></p><p>If anyone else has coins of Melqart they'd like to post -- Greek, Roman Provincial, or otherwise -- I'd love to see them.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="DonnaML, post: 4635276, member: 110350"]Melqart, also spelled Melkart (meaning "King of the City" in Phoenician) was the tutelary or patron god of the Phoenician city of Tyre. Temples to him were built not only in Tyre but in various Phoenician colonies including Carthage and Gades (Cadiz in Spain). See [URL]https://www.ancient.eu/Melqart/[/URL] . The Greeks, and later the Romans, identified him with Herakles/Hercules, and he appears as such on numerous Roman provincial coins: a search for "Melqart" in RPC online yields 200 results -- many of them, but not all, issued in Tyre itself -- under every emperor from Augustus through Trajan, as well as under Gordian III and Trebonianus Gallus. (Of course, there are volumes of RPC that remain unpublished, either in print or online.) I recently purchased, and received, a silver tetradrachm of Trajan with Melqart on the reverse, issued in Tyre in 100 AD. Unlike some examples I've seen on which the Hercules connection is carried to the extent of showing Melqart with an enormous, bull-like head and neck, reminiscent of a comic book character, he looks almost "normal" on this coin: Trajan AR Tetradrachm, 100 AD, Phoenicia, Tyre. Obv. Laureate head of Trajan right; behind, ear of grain in left field; to right, club in right field; below, eagle with folded wings standing right, ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙϹ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ / Rev. Laureate bust of Melqart (as Herakles) right, lion’s skin tied at neck, ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤ Γ [= COS III]. RPC [[I]Roman Provincial Coinage[/I]] Vol. III 3526 (2015); RPC Online at [URL]https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/3526[/URL]; Prieur 1482 [Prieur, Michel and Karin, [I]Syro-Phoenician Tetradrachms[/I] (London, 2000)]; McAlee 452 [McAlee, Richard, [I]The Coins of Roman Antioch[/I] (2007)]. 27 mm., 14.25 g. [ATTACH=full]1146073[/ATTACH] The dark gray toning reminds me a little of the toning on some British silver coins and medals of the 17th and 18th centuries that I have or used to have. I'm sure I could make the coin all bright and shiny, but I like it this way! I also like the fact that the legends and all the other devices are complete, which often isn't the case on coins of this and similar types. If anyone else has coins of Melqart they'd like to post -- Greek, Roman Provincial, or otherwise -- I'd love to see them.[/QUOTE]
Your name or email address:
Do you already have an account?
No, create an account now.
Yes, my password is:
Forgot your password?
Stay logged in
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
Melqart
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Competitions
Competitions
Quick Links
Competition Index
Rules, Terms & Conditions
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Showcase
Showcase
Quick Links
Search Items
Most Active Members
New Items
Directory
Directory
Quick Links
Directory Home
New Listings
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Sponsors
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...