Reverse of Tyche

Hi. The reverse of this ancient Greek coin shows apparently a ship and other signs that I can't understand. I can recognize Tyche on obverse. The coin weighs 3.78 g. I appreciate your comments and assistance for identification. Thanks..

 

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That's a coin of Arados. The ligature AP at the top of the reverse gives the clue. 3rd-century BC. You are correct that it's Tyche on the obverse. The reverse has a galley and that's supposed to be Nike on top of the galley, but she's a bit worn on your coin. Still, a very decent example of the type.

 

Nice coin. Arados coins are always interesting and this one is no less so. I think, however, that the figure on the galley is suppose represent Athena. I think the attribution is BMC Phoenicia p. 13 88-91

 

Thanks.. Where does the figure on the galley stand exactly ? I mean right , left( to viewer ) or between letters ?
Charles

 

I can look it up in BMC tonight if you want me to Bing.

 

Nice from you MN.
Charles

 

The figure of Nike is immediately left of the A.

 

I noticed that. The head of Nike is up the coin, as if she is heading left. Then the points down could represent her body. Is this so important ? I just read that Tyche was always identified with Athena. Do you want me to clean the coin? I dare not.
Charles

 

It could use a little cleaning, but I wouldn't do any more than soak it in distilled water and see if you can pick off any of the dirt with a toothpick. It looks pretty good as it is.

 

Yeah, take a look and see what you come up with. I'm interested.

 

Yes, that is it. On plate coin III 3 you see a better view of Nike on the reverse for those who have the book. I would take a pic for you but Doug would skin me alive.....

 

Hi.. The two Greek letters on top of the reverse are (From right to left) Alpha (A) and then RO (R). Reading from right to left, we get A R ( for Arados), the famous Phoenician city Arwad (Arvad). The main purpose or issue now is: Did the early Greek people wrote their language from left to right, like all Latin languages today? Or did they write from right to left , just like the Phoenicians, and just as we might see on this coin ? Charles

 

Phoenician was generally written right-to-left, although there are a few exceptions in boustrophedon (alternating directions by line), but none that I know of on coins. A few alphabets that derived from Phoenician were also written right-to-left, namely Imperial Aramaic and its progeny Hebrew and Nabataean.

The AP is a ligature with the letters connected left-to-right, but these are Greek letters, and this was the common direction for Greek.

 

Sorry JA. Maybe there is a misunderstanding here. In fact, what do you mean by AP. If you mean Above Picture, well I can Clearly read in Greek A R, from right to left. If you agree with this, then there is no problem or misunderstanding.
Charles

 

There is no R in Greek. Rho is written P.

When I say AP, I'm not transliterating. I mean alpha rho.

 

That is correct. I know Greek. And , on top of the reverse I can clearly read from right to left : Alpha Rho . Do you agree with me brother ?
Charles

 

Yes! I wholeheartedly agree, lol. Alpha Rho! You find the ligature frequently on coins of Arados - not on some types, though.

 

JA. I thought I might have been mistaken. I mean that to the left of the ligature away about one centimeter there is a big Rho. SO I said to myself that this Rho could just be a part of the galley. Thanks for your sincere collaboration.
By the way, Do you think that Doug will send us a photo from the British museum Book of coins.
Charles

 

I guess a picture is worth a thousand words. Here is the ligature AP and Nike.



If you want to see more coins of Arados, there are quite a few on Wildwinds here.

 

That is clear now. I mistook Nike for the Greek letter Rho. I bothered you a lot,but we finally came to the truth. Indeed it was a useful and pleasant coin Talk.
Charles