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<p>[QUOTE="1934 Wreath Crown, post: 4514202, member: 76965"]Sidon (mod. Saida) is situated in modern day Lebanon and was an important commercial center and maritime power located on the coast of Phoenicia (Mediterranean coast of Lebanon). It lies approximately 40 kilometres south of Beirut and north of Tyre.</p><p><br /></p><p>Archaeological evidence dates the earliest remains in Sidon to the Paleolithic era. The city of Sidon, like all other Phoenician cities of the coast, was successively part of the territory of Egypt of Ramses II (-1275), then of the Assyrians (-701) with Sargon, then of the Babylonians (- 585) of Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus of Persia (-539), Alexander the Great (-333) and finally under the Roman occupation (-64). Its importance was manifested by the fact that its name was preceded by ‘Cur’ meaning country whereas Tyre, its southern neighbor, was described as ‘Uru’ or city. The relationship with Tyre was never certain with both cities either coming together against a common foe or allying with invaders at the territorial expense of the other.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the 10th century BC, the Phoenicians conquered the city from the Egyptians and developed it into a maritime power through trade with other settlements throughout the eastern Mediterranean. During this time, it is thought that Tyre was founded by colonists from Sidon. Over the next five centuries, the city fell under Assyrian, Babylonian, and, eventually, Persian control. In the latter period, Sidon became the most important city of Phoenicia, and it was the first to develop a local coinage.</p><p><br /></p><p>These coins were struck under the local Sidonian king, and typically consisted of images representing the king as well as a galley, the source of Sidonian wealth and power. Alexander the Great conquered the city in 333 BC, whereupon the mint was converted to produce Alexander-type coinage. After a short period of Ptolemaic control, the city passed into the hands of the Seleukids, who continued Sidonian mint production for their own royal coinage.</p><p><br /></p><p>During this period, Tyre began to overshadow Sidon in importance, and this was reflected in the output of their respective mints. Circa 111 BC, the Seleucids granted autonomy to both Sidon and Tyre.</p><p><br /></p><p>Tyre began issuing their new coinage immediately, whereas Sidon's did not begin until 5 years later, in 107/6 BC. The present tetradrachm belongs to this period. While contemporary tetradrachms from other cities, such as Arados and Tyre are relatively plentiful today, the Sidonian Tetradrachms of this period are quite rare/scarce, reflecting the diminished importance of the city. Nevertheless, the quality of the engraving of the dies was not compromised, and these issues are considered among the most beautiful of numismatic art in the 1st century BC.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Phoenicia, Sidon</b> Year 5 (c.107-106 B.C.) AR Tetradrachm (13.82gms), NGC Ch AU Strike 5/5 Surface 3/5</p><p>Turreted head of Tyche right, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace; Reverse: Eagle standing on prow left, date and monogram in left field, palm frond behind; to left.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1118491[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1118493[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1118494[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I have not been able to find too many examples of this coin in my searches and many are replicas for 'educational' purposes. If anyone has coins from Sidon or additional information on this type of tetradrachm, please share<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="1934 Wreath Crown, post: 4514202, member: 76965"]Sidon (mod. Saida) is situated in modern day Lebanon and was an important commercial center and maritime power located on the coast of Phoenicia (Mediterranean coast of Lebanon). It lies approximately 40 kilometres south of Beirut and north of Tyre. Archaeological evidence dates the earliest remains in Sidon to the Paleolithic era. The city of Sidon, like all other Phoenician cities of the coast, was successively part of the territory of Egypt of Ramses II (-1275), then of the Assyrians (-701) with Sargon, then of the Babylonians (- 585) of Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus of Persia (-539), Alexander the Great (-333) and finally under the Roman occupation (-64). Its importance was manifested by the fact that its name was preceded by ‘Cur’ meaning country whereas Tyre, its southern neighbor, was described as ‘Uru’ or city. The relationship with Tyre was never certain with both cities either coming together against a common foe or allying with invaders at the territorial expense of the other. In the 10th century BC, the Phoenicians conquered the city from the Egyptians and developed it into a maritime power through trade with other settlements throughout the eastern Mediterranean. During this time, it is thought that Tyre was founded by colonists from Sidon. Over the next five centuries, the city fell under Assyrian, Babylonian, and, eventually, Persian control. In the latter period, Sidon became the most important city of Phoenicia, and it was the first to develop a local coinage. These coins were struck under the local Sidonian king, and typically consisted of images representing the king as well as a galley, the source of Sidonian wealth and power. Alexander the Great conquered the city in 333 BC, whereupon the mint was converted to produce Alexander-type coinage. After a short period of Ptolemaic control, the city passed into the hands of the Seleukids, who continued Sidonian mint production for their own royal coinage. During this period, Tyre began to overshadow Sidon in importance, and this was reflected in the output of their respective mints. Circa 111 BC, the Seleucids granted autonomy to both Sidon and Tyre. Tyre began issuing their new coinage immediately, whereas Sidon's did not begin until 5 years later, in 107/6 BC. The present tetradrachm belongs to this period. While contemporary tetradrachms from other cities, such as Arados and Tyre are relatively plentiful today, the Sidonian Tetradrachms of this period are quite rare/scarce, reflecting the diminished importance of the city. Nevertheless, the quality of the engraving of the dies was not compromised, and these issues are considered among the most beautiful of numismatic art in the 1st century BC. [B]Phoenicia, Sidon[/B] Year 5 (c.107-106 B.C.) AR Tetradrachm (13.82gms), NGC Ch AU Strike 5/5 Surface 3/5 Turreted head of Tyche right, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace; Reverse: Eagle standing on prow left, date and monogram in left field, palm frond behind; to left. [ATTACH=full]1118491[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1118493[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1118494[/ATTACH] I have not been able to find too many examples of this coin in my searches and many are replicas for 'educational' purposes. If anyone has coins from Sidon or additional information on this type of tetradrachm, please share:)[/QUOTE]
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