L. Müller, Numismatique de l'ancienne Afrique, ii. and Supp., pp. 33 f.; Cagnat, Monnaies usitées dans l'Afrique romaine, etc., in Klio, ix, pp. 194 ff.
Syrtica, also called Tripolitana, and now Tripoli, from the three chief cities, Leptis Magna, Oea, and Sabratha, was the line of coast extending from Cyrenaica on the east to Byzacene on the west.
Gergis (Zarzis), near the frontiers of Byzacene. Imperial bronze of Augustus only, with Latin legend, rev. PERM. L. VOLVSI. PROCOS. GERG. Head of Pallas, struck by L. Volusius Saturninus, Proconsul of Africa B.C. 6 to A.D. 2. Symbol, crab (Müller, ii, p. 35).
Leptis Magna (Lebda), a colony of Sidon, and one of the three chief cities of Syrtica, was an emporium of considerable importance (Müller, ii, p. 3). It struck autonomous silver and bronze of the first century B.C., with the Punic legend לפקי (Lephki = Leptis), and types relating to the worship of Herakles and Dionysos. Also Imperial of Augustus, Tiberius, and Livia (Augusta Mater Patria[e]). It was made a colony by Trajan (Ulpia Traiana).
Macaraea and Bilan(?). Bronze of Augustus (Müller, ii, p. 26). Inscr., מעקר (Maqar) and בילן (Bilan), rev. Head of Apollo. This is a doubtful attribution.
Oea (Tripoli), about midway between Leptis Magna and Sabratha. Autonomous bronze and Imperial of Tiberius, with Punic inscr., ויעת (Oyath?, Müller, ii, p. 15). The predominate types are the heads and the attributes of Apollo and Athena:—Tripod, Lyre, Bow and quiver, Shields and spears, etc., and bust of Livia as Juno or Ceres, with peacock and ear of corn in field.
For alliance coins of Oea, with Zitha and Zuchis, and with Macaraea and Bilan(?), see Müller, ii, pp. 20 sq.
Sabratha, the farthest to the west of the three chief cities of Syrtica. Autonomous bronze and Imperial of Augustus, with Punic inscr., צברתען (Tsabrathan, Müller, ii, p. 26), and types referring to the worship of Phoenician gods corresponding to Herakles, Dionysos, and Hermes; rev. Tetrastyle temple, Capricorn, etc.