I bought this coin from JA at the beginning of this month. It's a wondrous coin, very thick and hefty for it's size, with good detail. Many here have posted coins from Arados, but this is my first. PHOENICIA ARADOS AR Tetradrachm OBVERSE: Turreted, veiled, and draped bust of Tyche right REVERSE: Nike standing left, holding wreath and palm frond; in left field, ZOP (date) above Aramaic B above ΘЄ; all within wreath Arados CY 177 (83/82 BC) 14.91g, 27mm Duyrat 3536–49; HGC 10, 72; DCA 772; BMC 239 A little history of Arados The name Arvad is noted in the Bible as the progenitor of the Arvadites, a Canaanite people. The island was settled in the early 2nd millennium BC by the Phoenicians. Under Phoenician control, it became an independent kingdom called Arvad or Jazirat (the latter term meaning "island"). The Phoenician name for the city was probably (Aynook). The city has been cited as one of the first known examples of a republic in the world, in which the people, rather than a monarch, are described as sovereign. In Greek it was known as Arados. The city also appears in ancient sources as Arpad and Arphad. The city was renamed Antiochia in Pieria by Antiochus I Soter. The island was important as a base for commercial ventures into the Orontes valley. Located some 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of Tripolis, it was a barren rock covered with fortifications and houses several stories in height. The island was about 800 m long by 500 m wide, surrounded by a massive wall, and an artificial harbor was constructed on the east toward the mainland. It developed into a trading city in early times, as did most of the Phoenician cities on this coast. It had a powerful navy, and its ships are mentioned in the monuments of Egypt and Assyria. It seems to have had a sort of hegemony over the northern Phoenician cities, from the mouth of the Orontes to the northern limits of Lebanon, something like that of Sidon in the south. It had its own local dynasty and coinage, and some of the names of its kings have been recovered. Its inhabitants are mentioned in the early lists of Genesis (10:18), and Ezekiel (27:8,11) refers to its seamen and soldiers in the service of Tyre. Please post your coins from Arados
Arodos has quite a few interesting types. My first is a stater of 350-332 BC which I selected for its very odd flan that showed the most of the portrait (King Gerostratos?) and the full reverse legend MA 15 in Phoenecian letters (regnal year 15 = 328 BC) Sear 5977. I barely got the hull of the boat and lost all of the neat waves under it that you see on rounder coins but this is the better of the choices IMHO. Round is overrated. Compare: http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=181796 Next is a coin I have shown before many times from the time Arados was striking Alexander tetradrachms. AP under the throne I's the city. My coin is a fourree and die duplicate of another fourree that has the year date on flan in reverse exergue so I know it is year OE = 185 BC. I have not seen an OE that was not fourree but there are other years. Sear 5984 Next is my tet like Bing's but year EOP = 175 = 85-84 BC Sear 5992 var. Sear points out these exist from 137 to 45 BC. Year date collectors will need a heavy duty penny board for their set. My bronze with Zeus is AE17 has year date 115 = 179 BC under the ship ram. Again I selected it for having the year date. One more fourree is from the Arados series issued to pay foreign mercenaries who were accustomed to the coins of Ephesos. Year P = 100 = 160-59 BC; Sear 5989. My question is who would pay mercenaries with bad coins? The style is good but maybe they are unofficial. I have seen several fourrees of this type.
The OP coin really is a case of being better in-hand. It's a big, chunky silver with strong relief and details despite the wear. I think you took a good image of it - I wasn't happy with any of mine. Glad you like it!
Very cool addition Bing---I was thinking of going after that OP coin as well...I always like the chunky types LOL And Doug's examples are great....and I suspect paying mercenaries in bad coin is a VERY bad strategy for those desiring a full, long and happy life.
Just thought I would add this side view image to give everyone an idea of it's thickness and to show the raised portrait.
The reverse of this coin from Arados shows a ligature of 2 Greek letters ( Alpha and Rho ) that is A and R for Arados on the upper right. I can also detect the image of Nike to the upper left. I don't think this is usual for Nike that way. On the obverse, Tyche looks as charming as ever, LOL..
Question to all: Should I try to clean this coin? (So you don't have to look back to the start of this thread)
I was thinking lemon juice, but a couple of denarii I cleaned with juice turned very bright with no toning left. But this coin looks like it could need a little cleaning. It's got great detail hidden beneath the black spots.
Perhaps just some distilled water and a very soft nylon or wire brush??? As 'pish' would say, just a 'tickle'...and very lightly done at that. Just boiling a coin usually leaves it 'clean' keeps the patina and can easily be further enhanced by simply rubbing it dry with a soft cloth...??
I have two from Arados Phoenicia, Arados Coin: Silver Stater - Laureate head of Baál Arwad with full eye right Phoenician letters aleph (´), aleph (´) & mem (M) above - Galley sailing right above waves (three lines) with figure of Pataikos right, all within dotted square border Mint: Arados (348/7-339/8 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 9.22g / 17-19mm / - References: cf. HGC 10, 32-6 Cf. Betlyon 26 and Phoenicia , Arados Coin: Bronze - Braided, bearded head of Zeus right, border of dots. - Phoenician letters nun (N) and resh (R) above, Aradian era date 112-113 below Mint: Arados (148-146 B.C) Wt./Size/Axis: 3.80g / 16mm / - References: Sear #6001 Both attributions came from a user on FAC named (appropriately) Arados.
I really like your new coin jw, i know you've wanted one for a while!! nice big fat chunky coin, i would drop it in some olive oil for a few days, brush every other day..then brush it in lemon juice. Phoenicia Arados 138-43 B.C. Ar Tet. Dated CY 160 (100/99 BC) Obv. Turreted veiled and draped bust of Tyche right. Rev. Nike standing left, holding aplustre and palm. 29mm x 14.97g.