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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Phoenicia||View Options:  |  |  |     

Ancient Coins of Phoenicia

Phoenicia, from the Greek Phoiníkē meaning either "land of palm trees" or "purple country," was located on the Mediterranean coastline of what is now Lebanon, Israel, Gaza, Syria, and southwest Turkey, though some colonies later reached the Western Mediterranean and even the Atlantic Ocean, the most famous being Carthage. The enterprising, sea-based Phoenicians spread across the Mediterranean from 1500 to 300 B.C. Their civilization was organized in city-states, similar to those of ancient Greece, perhaps the most notable of which were Tyre, Sidon, Arados, Berytus and Carthage. Each city-state was politically independent and it is uncertain to what extent the Phoenicians viewed themselves as a single nationality. In terms of archaeology, language, lifestyle, and religion there was little to set the Phoenicians apart as markedly different from other Semitic Canaanites. The Phoenician alphabet is an ancestor of all modern alphabets. By their maritime trade, the Phoenicians spread the use of the alphabet to Anatolia, North Africa, and Europe, where it was adopted by the Greeks, who in turn transmitted it to the Romans.

Seleukid Kingdom, Demetrius II Nikator, 146 - 138 and 129 - 125 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Demetrius| |II| |Nikator,| |146| |-| |138| |and| |129| |-| |125| |B.C.||didrachm|
Demetrius II ruled for two periods, separated by years of captivity in Parthia. He gained the throne with the help of Egypt, but general Diodotus rebelled, took Antioch and made Antiochus VI Dionysus his puppet king. Demetrius then ruled part of the kingdom from Seleucia. In 38 B.C. he attacked the Parthians but was defeated and captured, ending his first reign. The Parthians released him in 129 B.C. when his brother, Antiochus VII Sidetes, marched against Parthia. They hoped the brothers would fight a civil war but the Parthians soon defeated Sidetes, and Demetrius returned to rule Syria. His second reign portraits show him wearing a Parthian styled beard. His second reign ended when he was defeated and killed by yet another usurper set up by Egypt, Alexander II Zabinas.
GY91687. Silver didrachm, Houghton-Lorber II 2196(2)c; Newell Tyre 163, HGC 9 1125 (R2); Cohen DCA 232, SNG Spaer 2229 var. (ZB between legs), F, dark old collection tone, rough from corrosion, scratches, weight 6.700 g, maximum diameter 23.3 mm, die axis 0o, Phoenicia, Tyre (Lebanon) mint, 129 - 128 B.C.; obverse diademed head right; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY, eagle standing left on ship ram, palm frond under wing, APE above (Tyre monogram) over club left, AVΣ monogram / ΔΠP (year 184) right, M between legs; from the Maxwell Hunt Collection; SOLD


Seleukid Kingdom, Antiochus IX Cyzicenus, 114 - 95 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Antiochus| |IX| |Cyzicenus,| |114| |-| |95| |B.C.||AE| |18|
Aphrodite was jealous of the beauty of mortal princess Psyche, as men were leaving her altars barren to worship a mere human woman. So, she commanded her son Eros to cause Psyche to fall in love with the ugliest creature on earth. Instead, Eros fell in love with Psyche himself and spirited her away to his home. Psyche's jealous sisters, visited and caused Psyche to betray the trust of her husband. Wounded, Eros leaves his wife, and Psyche wanders the Earth, looking for her lost love. Eventually she approaches Aphrodite and asks for her help. Aphrodite imposes a series of difficult tasks on Psyche, which she is able to achieve by means of supernatural assistance. After successfully completing these tasks, Aphrodite relents and Psyche becomes immortal to live alongside her husband Eros. Together they had a daughter, Voluptas or Hedone (meaning physical pleasure, bliss).
GB76669. Bronze AE 18, Houghton-Lorber II 2388(2); SNG Spaer 2736; SNG Cop 413; HGC 9 1254; cf. BMC Seleucid 27 (year 201), VF, green patina, tight slightly ragged flan, cleaning scratches, reverse a little off-center, weight 4.081 g, maximum diameter 18.1 mm, die axis 0o, uncertain probably Phoenician mint, c. 111 - 110 B.C.; obverse winged bust of Eros right; reverse Nike advancing left, wreath in extended right hand, BAΣIΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY in two downward lines on right, ΦIΛOΠATOPOΣ in downward line on left, BS (year 202) outer left; from the Butte College Foundation, ex Lindgren; SOLD


Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D. Heliopolis, Coele Syria

|Decapolis,| |Arabia| |&| |Syria|, |Caracalla,| |28| |January| |198| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.| |Heliopolis,| |Coele| |Syria||AE| |18|
Baalbek, a town in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon, east of the Litani River, was known as Heliopolis during Roman rule. It was one of the largest sanctuaries in the empire and contains some of the best preserved Roman ruins in Lebanon. The gods worshiped at the temple, the triad of Jupiter, Venus and Bacchus, were grafted onto the indigenous deities of Hadad, Atargatis and a young male god of fertility. Local influences are seen in the planning and layout of the temples, which vary from the classic Roman design.
RY73044. Bronze AE 18, Sawaya 388 var. (D74/R -, unlisted reverse die), SNG Cop 430, Lindgren-Kovacs A2162A, BMC Galatia -, aVF, centered, green patina, cleaning scratches, weight 3.612 g, maximum diameter 18.1 mm, die axis 0o, Heliopolis (Baalbek, Lebanon) mint, 211 - 212 A.D.; obverse M AVR ANTONI, laureate head right, seen from behind; reverse COL HEL, Hermes standing slightly left, head left, nude but for cloak over shoulder, purse in right hand, caduceus in left hand; SOLD


Tyre, Phoenicia, 152 - 153 A.D.

|Phoenicia|, |Tyre,| |Phoenicia,| |152| |-| |153| |A.D.||AE| |23|
Struck by the city of Tyre during the reign of Antoninus Pius.
GB69654. Bronze AE 23, BMC Phoenicia p. 264, 334; Rouvier -, F+, heavy green patina, scratches, weight 9.755 g, maximum diameter 23.3 mm, die axis 0o, Phoenicia, Tyre (Lebanon) mint, 152 - 153 A.D.; obverse laureate head of Melqart right, lion's skin knotted around neck, border of dots; reverse Tyre Greek monogram above club, inscription in three lines: MΗ-TPO/ΠOΛ-ΕΩΣ / ΗOΣ (year 278) - Phoenician "of Tyre" abbreviation; all in oak wreath tied at the bottom and border of dots; from the Butte College Foundation, ex Lindgren; SOLD


Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Tyre, Phoenicia

|Phoenicia|, |Severus| |Alexander,| |13| |March| |222| |-| |March| |235| |A.D.,| |Tyre,| |Phoenicia||AE| |25|
This coin was struck during the few months that Severus Alexander was Caesar under his cousin Elagabalus. When Elagabalus' eccentricities decimated his popular support, his grandmother Julia Maesa prevailed on him to appoint his cousin Alexander as caesar and his heir. When Elagabalus realized his grandmother and the Praetorian Guard actually preferred his cousin, he stripped Alexander of his titles and apparently arranged several unsuccessful attempts on Alexander's life. When both Elagabalus and Alexander arrived in the Praetorian camp to quash a rumor that Alexander was dead, the soldiers ignored Elagabalus and cheered Alexander. Elagabalus ordered the execution the insubordinate soldiers, but the soldiers instead killed him and his mother. On 13 March 222, Severus Alexander became emperor when he was only 13 years old.
RB69655. Bronze AE 25, cf. Rouvier 2413; SNG Cop 370; BMC Phoenicia p. 279, 419; Baramki AUB 257, F, rough, weight 8.511 g, maximum diameter 24.5 mm, die axis 0o, Phoenicia, Tyre (Lebanon) mint, as caesar, 222 A.D.; obverse M AV ALEXANDER CAES SE, bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse SEP TVRO COLO, Tyche-Astarte standing facing, right hand on trophy to left, scepter in her left, Nike offering wreath on short column to right; small palm tree between Astarte and trophy, murex shell between Astarte and column; from the Butte College Foundation, ex Lindgren; scarce; SOLD


Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Tyre, Phoenicia

|Roman| |Phoenicia|, |Caracalla,| |28| |January| |198| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.,| |Tyre,| |Phoenicia||AE| |27|
RP09294. Bronze AE 27, BMC Phoenicia 376.2, aF, weight 12.41 g, maximum diameter 26.8 mm, die axis 180o, Phoenicia, Tyre (Lebanon) mint, obverse IMP M AVR - ANTONINVS, laureate bust right; reverse SEPT TVRVS METROP COLONI, Founder plowing right; vexillum marked LEG / III / GAL behind, murex shell lower right; SOLD


Seleukid Kingdom, Antiochus III the Great, c. 223 - 187 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Antiochus| |III| |the| |Great,| |c.| |223| |-| |187| |B.C.||dilepton|
Antiochus' victory at the Battle of Panium in 198 B.C. transferred control of Judaea from Ptolemaic Egypt to the Seleukid Kingdom. When Antiochos conquered Asia Minor, however, the Romans responded. Antiochos' losses were so great that the whole of his empire was shattered and he was forced to content himself with the region that he had held in the beginning, Syria.
GY34025. Bronze dilepton, SNG Spaer 678 - 680, F, weight 2.287 g, maximum diameter 14.2 mm, die axis 0o, Phoenicia, Tyre (Lebanon) mint, 198 - 187 B.C.; obverse diademed head right; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTOXOY, palm tree with two bunches of dates; SOLD


Seleukid Kingdom, Demetrius II Nikator, 146 - 138 and 129 - 125 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Demetrius| |II| |Nikator,| |146| |-| |138| |and| |129| |-| |125| |B.C.||AE| |18|
As required by the Treaty of Apamea, Demetrius, the son of Seleucus IV, was held in Rome as a hostage. After Antiochus IV (his uncle) died, he claimed the right to rule but Rome preferred Antiochus V, a weak child. Demetrius escaped, was aided by Egypt, welcomed in Syria, and took his throne. Antiochus V and his regent were executed. Demetrius defeated Judas Maccabeus and restored Seleukid control over Judaea.
GY69538. Bronze AE 18, Houghton-Lorber II 1968(3), Newell Tyre 103, SNG Spaer 1706, HGC 9 1000, Cohen DCA 171 (S), aF, weight 6.074 g, maximum diameter 18.2 mm, die axis 45o, Phoenicia, Tyre (Lebanon) mint, 1st reign, 144 - 143 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Demetrios II right; reverse stern of galley left, BAΣIΛΕΩΣ / ΔΗMΗTPIOY in two lines over LΘΞP (Seleucid Era year 169) above, TYPIΩN and Phoenician script "of Tyre" below; from the Butte College Foundation, ex Lindgren; scarce; SOLD


Hadrian, 11 August 117 - 10 July 138 A.D., Sidon, Phoenicia

|Phoenicia|, |Hadrian,| |11| |August| |117| |-| |10| |July| |138| |A.D.,| |Sidon,| |Phoenicia||AE| |23|
Zeus was enamored of Europa and decided to seduce or ravish her. He transformed himself into a tame white bull and mixed in with her father's herds. While Europa and her female attendants were gathering flowers, she saw the bull, caressed his flanks, and eventually got onto his back. Zeus took that opportunity and ran to the sea and swam, with her on his back, to the island of Crete. He then revealed his true identity, and Europa became the first queen of Crete. Zeus gave her a necklace made by Hephaestus and three additional gifts: Talos, Laelaps and a javelin that never missed. Zeus later re-created the shape of the white bull in the stars, which is now known as the constellation Taurus.
RP40089. Bronze AE 23, BMC Phoenicia p. 181, 225, F, weight 10.352 g, maximum diameter 23.0 mm, die axis 0o, Sidon (Saida, Lebanon) mint, 117 - 118 A.D.; obverse AYTO TPA KAI AΔPIANΩΣ [...], laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse Europa riding bull right, date ΗKΣ upper right, ΣIΔΩNOΣ ΘΕAΣ below; SOLD


Seleukid Kingdom, Demetrius II Nikator, 146 - 138 and 129 - 125 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Demetrius| |II| |Nikator,| |146| |-| |138| |and| |129| |-| |125| |B.C.||AE| |15|
Demetrios II Nikator attacked the Parthians in 138 B.C. but was defeated and captured. He was held in captivity until 129 B.C., when he was released and began his second reign. He was murdered in 125 B.C. His second reign portraits show him wearing a Parthian styled beard.
GY56676. Bronze AE 15, Houghton-Lorber II 2200(1), SNG Spaer 2237, HGC 9 1143, Cohen 242, aF, weight 1.823 g, maximum diameter 14.6 mm, die axis 0o, Phoenicia, Tyre (Lebanon) mint, 129 - 128 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Demetrius II right; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY, palm tree, Δ-ΠP (year 184) across field; rare (R2); SOLD




    




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REFERENCES

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