Many/most? of us have found that we’ve unintentionally formed some mini “sets” of coins within our collections- coins that have some sort of match with others. They weren’t purchased because of a match, but the unforeseen match was later observed and the mini-set/s was/were later identified as such. “Matches” can be derived from many things- commonalities with people, regions, types, devices, denominations, dies, historical stories, etc. The individual coins still likely fit well within the broader focus of our collections; and for some, they may have even sparked an additional or even a new primary collecting goal- a different collecting objective that serendipitously grew from an inadvertently created mini-set that then captured our interest. Please share your “inadvertent mini-sets”- three or more coins that share some interesting commonality! I found that I have a mini-set of 3 coins minted in Ascalon that share an “emperor obverse & a Tyche-on-galley reverse” design: Vespasian Judaea. Ascalon. Vespasian (69-79 AD). AE (24 mm 10.47 gm, 12h). Dated Civic Year 181 = AD 77/78.CΕΒ[ΑCΤΟC], Laureate head of Vespasian left. / ΑCΚΑΛΩ, Tyche standing facing head left on prow of galley left, holding vexillum and aplustre; on left, incense altar; in right field, dove standing above date: AПP. Rosenberger 108; Yashin 113; RPC 2206. Titus Judaea. Ascalon. Titus, 79-81 AD. (AE (24 mm, 12.93 g). Dated year 184, 80-81 AD. Laureate head right. / Tyche-Astarte standing left on galley, holding standard and aphlaston; to left, altar; to right, dove above date. Sofaer 78; Yashin 117; RPC 2209. Trajan Judaea. Ascalon. Trajan (98-117 AD). AE (24 mm, 12.53 gm, 12h). Dated Civic Year 215 = 111-112 AD. Laureate head right. [CEBA]C TOC. Dotted border. / [A]C[KALW]. Tyche standing facing head left on prow of galley left, holding vexillum and aplustre; on left, altar; in right field, dove standing above date: EIC. Dotted border. Rosenberger 138; Yashin 152. Ashkelon Also known as Tel Ascalon, Tel Ashqelon, Ascalon, Ashqelon, 'Askalan, Askalon, Askelon, 'Asqalan, 'Asqelon Philistine Beach The Philistines who migrated to the coastal plain of Israel around 1200 BC settled in five major cities. Three of these were along the coastal branch of the International Highway leading from Egypt, but because of the presence of sand dunes, only Ashkelon was built on the shore. At 150 acres (60 ha), the tell of Ashkelon is the largest Philistine city, and one of the largest tells in all of ancient Israel. Excavations From 1985 to 2016, Harvard University excavated Ashkelon under the director Lawrence Stager. More than a century earlier, Ashkelon was the site of the first “archaeological excavation” in the Holy Land when Lady Hester Stanhope conducted a small dig. Excavations have uncovered remains from nearly every period from the Neolithic Age until the 13th century AD. Fortifications During the Middle Ages, the Muslim rulers of Ashkelon re-used Roman granite columns to strengthen the construction. These columns now protrude from the eroded tell as waves have gradually washed away ruins on the shoreline. The Canaanite city was surrounded by a massive rampart on three sides of the city, and the fourth side was protected by the sea. Later fortifications took advantage of the rampart, and walls were constructed on top of it. The city had no springs but several good wells and fertile soil. Canaanite Gate One of the earliest intact gates in Israel was excavated at Ashkelon in the 1990s. The Middle Bronze mudbrick structure is contemporary with the well-known one at Dan. Outside the gate, a bronze calf was discovered, apparently once worshipped at the city entrance. Later History Ashkelon was an important city after the Babylonians destroyed the city and wiped out the Philistines. A key seaport in the Hellenistic period, Ashkelon became a free city in 104 BC. Herod I financed major construction projects there and it flourished in the Roman and Byzantine periods. The Cruaders later re-fortified the city but Saladin captured it and destroyed it upon the approach of Richard the Lion-hearted. (-bibleplaces.com) Other Info & Bible References It was one of the five cities of the Philistines (Joshua 13:3; 1 Samuel 6:17). It stood on the shore of the Mediterranean, 12 miles north of Gaza. It is mentioned on an inscription at Karnak in Egypt as having been taken by king Rameses II, the oppressor of the Hebrews. In the time of the judges (Judges 1:18) it fell into the possession of the tribe of Judah; but it was soon after retaken by the Philistines (2 Samuel 1:20), who were not finally dispossessed till the time of Alexander the Great. Samson went down to this place from Timnah, and slew thirty men. The prophets foretold its destruction (Jer 25; Jer 47 Amos 1:8; Zeph 2:4,-7; Zech 9:5). It became a noted place in the Middle Ages, having been the scene of bloody battles between the Saracens and the Crusaders. It was besieged and taken by Richard the Lion-hearted, and "within its walls and towers now standing he held his court." Among the Tell Amarna tablets are found letters or official dispatches from Yadaya, "captain of horse and dust of the king's feet," to the "great king" of Egypt, dated from Ascalon. (-Easton’s Bible Dictionary & Naves Topical Index)
