PHOENICIA, Tyre. Trajan, 98-117 AD. AR Tetradrachm Laureate head with eagle below / Head of Melqart draped in lion skin. Well, it was bound to happen. I got me my first Roman Tetradrachm, and it just so happens to have the coolest Roman Emperor ever, Trajan! And look at that sleek eagle below his bust. And on the reverse is Melqart, the Phoenician version of Hercules? Melqart looks sort of like the incredible hulk...all pumped up! But he does have a little bit of resemblance to Caracalla, does he not?
Nice grab for a first tet. Hopefully I won't have to fight you in this field in the future, they're addicting Trajan (98 - 117 A.D.) AR Tetradrachm PHOENICIA, Tyre Dated COS 5, year 15 (111 AD) O: AVTOKP KAIC NEP TPAIANOC CEB ΓEPM ∆AK, Laureate head right set on eagle standing right; club to left. R: ∆HMAPX - EΞ IE YΠAT E, laureate bust of Melqart draped in lion-skin. 24mm 13.7g Prieur 1515; BMC Phoenicia pg. 301, 15 Trajan (98 - 117 A.D.) AR Denarius O: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, Laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder. R: COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC, Spes walking left, flower in right, raising hem of skirt. Rome 3.5g 20mm SRCV II 3127, RIC II 127, RSC II 84
Well @Mat, if we are bringing out the denarii, I do have to roll my beauty out. I don't normally like to brag as I am a very humble person. To quote Donald Trump, "No one is more humble than me, believe me!" However, I always like to make an exception for this coin. The pictures truly don't do this gem any justice, and that Mars reverse is something else. It was worth a pretty penny, but it was money well spent as it always cheers me up to look at this coin in my collection. Anyway, no need to compete. There are plenty of Roman tets to go around for all of us. Can't wait to add more to my collection, and also to see any new acquisitions you add to yours, Mat.
Nice score @Sallent, Sadly Tets I only have a few of & we've all seen them. Along with my recent & only Tet I've picked up in a little while. Your Trajan is a great addition, congrats.
Any of you have any clue as to the precise date of my tet? Not sure if it even has one as part of the legend is off the flan... and I don't know a lot about these yet. Either way, date or no date, I still think it's cool.
Not a tetradrachm, not a Trajan, not even a contemporary coin, but here's a Melquart: Tyre, Phoenica AE25, 12.5g; 12h; 2nd-1st Century BC Obv.: Head of Heracles-Melqart right Rev.: MHTPONΠOΛΕΩΝ; Club surmounted by monogram of Tyre, all within oak wreath This coin's been dying to get shown off.
Nice catch @Sallent, I love those syro-phenician tets either, and the Trajan/Melqart has been among the first I ever bought... The eagle on yours is absolutely gorgeous ROMAN EMPIRE, TRAJAN Tetradrachm, Prieur 1495 Tyre mint, c. AD 110-111 ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙC ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟC CΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ ΔΑΚ, Laureate bust of Trajan right, eagle in field ΔΗΜΑΡΚ ΕΞ ΥΠΑTΕ, Laureate bust of Melkhart right 15.34 gr Ref : Sear #1088 var, Prieur # 1495_179, Mc Alee # 455 Q
A-noob's secret message here is that the coin once belonged to him. So in addition to being a great coin, it's got lofty provenance.
I believe Melqart is shown on the obverse of this silver Tet. The letters Sigma and Iota make me think that it was struck in Sidon- Phoenicia. Hope I'm right. The coin weighs 13.26 g.
@Sallent , nice coin, I see the club of Heracles (left of the eagle), but I don't see a lion head dress on Melquart ? @7Calbrey , I'm pretty sure its a portrait of King Ptlomy of Egypt Dont have a Tet of Trajan, here's my denarius:
Look at the bottom of the portrait, he is wearing a lion's due with crossed paws tied around his neck. You can see it better in @Cucumbor 's high grade sample. He is not supposed to have a lion's head dress, but rather the top edge of a lion fur coat visible. I corrected my description. I see I accidentally said he had a lion head dress, that was my mistake. Thanks.
Thanks A2. I searched following your accurate instruction. It's likely to be Ptolemy 10 Soter of Egypt. Do the letters Sigma and Iota to left of reverse refer to the date or mint?
