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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Birds||View Options:   | | | Birds, especially eagles, appear rather often on ancient coins. The eagle remained an important numismatic feature up to our days. |
Mazaios was the Persian satrap of Cilicia beginning about 361 BC and in about 345 B.C. he was also made satrap of Transeuphratesia (which included Syria and Judaea). In 331 BC, Mazaios was defeated by Alexander the Great at the Battle of Gaugamela, after which he fled to Babylon. Later that year Mazaios surrendered Babylon, the capital of the Persian Empire, to Alexander. For surrendering without a fight, Alexander appointed Mazaios governor of Babylon. He died in 328 B.C.SH114936. Silver stater, SNG Levante 103; SNG BnF 332; Newell 1920, series V, dd; Traité II p. 453, 700, pl. cxii, 19; Casabonne 2D, EF, sharp details, weight 10.740 g, maximum diameter 23.6 mm, die axis 90o, Tarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey) mint, 361/360 - 334 B.C.; obverse BLTRZ (Baaltarz) in Aramaic (read upward) behind, Baal of Tarsos enthroned left, head and torso turned facing, wreath on head, nude to waist, himation around hips and legs, bunch of grapes, grain ear, and eagle in right hand, lotus tipped scepter vertical behind in left hand,
(Aramaic resh) lower left, 
(Aramaic mem) below throne; reverse lion left, head turned facing, atop bull fallen left, attacking with teeth and claws, 
(Aramaic MZDI = Mazaios, read right to left) above, nothing below bull; ex Lugdunum Numismatik (Solothun, Switzerland) auction 23 (12 Dec 2023), lot 53; ex H.D. Rauch (Vienna, Austria) auction 23 (20 Jan 1986), lot 42; $2000.00 (€1880.00) 
Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285 - 246 B.C.
Ptolemais is today Acre, Israel. It was at Ptolemais that the Jews met Petronius, sent to set up statues of the emperor in the Temple, and persuaded him to turn back. St. Paul spent a day in Ptolemais (Acts 21:7). -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AkkoGP113579. Bronze diobol, Lorber CPE B338; Svoronos 790 (5 spec.); Rosenberger I p.20, 16; Sofaer pl. 3, 36; Weiser 42; SNG Cop -; Noeske –, Choice VF, green patina, earthen deposits, areas of weaker strike, marks, obv. edge beveled, weight 19.353 g, maximum diameter 31.7 mm, die axis 0o, Galilee, Ake Ptolemais (Acre, Israel) mint, 261 - 246 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Zeus Ammon right; reverse ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing half left atop fulmen (thunderbolt), head left, wings closed, double cornucopia bound with diadem over shoulder, Pi-Tau ligate inside Omicron (PTO - Ptolemais mintmark) in field; scarce; $800.00 (€752.00)
Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos, 80 - 58 and 55 - 51 B.C.
Ptolemy XII was a weak and unpopular ruler. He was awarded the belittling title Auletes - the flute player. Deposed by his own subjects in 58 B.C., he regained his throne with Roman assistance. His daughter, the famous Cleopatra VII, was the last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt.SL113488. Silver tetradrachm, Svoronos 1864 (Cleopatra VII); BMC Ptolemies p. 113, 32 (Ptolemaeus XI), SNG Cop 388, Noeske 344, Cohen DCA 69, NGC Ch VF, strike 4/5, surface 4/5 (3598288-015, notes perhaps Ptolemy X issue, year 17, 65/4 BC), weight 12.08 g, maximum diameter 23 mm, die axis 0o, Paphos or Alexandria mint, 65 - 64 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Ptolemy I right wearing aegis; reverse ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, LIZ (year 17, L appears as vertical line, Z appears as H on it side) left, ΠA right; from a Virginia Collector; NGC| Lookup; $550.00 (€517.00)
Macedonian Kingdom, Alexander the Great, 336 - 323 B.C., Lifetime Issue
Struck during the lifetime of Alexander the Great.
Alexander's genius and charisma led the Macedonian army to create an empire covering most of the then-known world, from Greece to India. His reign begins the Hellenistic Age, a time when civilization flourished. He was regarded as a god and his fame grew even greater after his premature death at thirty-two.GS114932. Silver tetradrachm, Price 71a; Müller Alexander 138; Demanhur 455 - 471; Newell Reattribution 19, & pl. iv, 2, VF, bumps and scrapes, some rose toning, weight 16.772 g, maximum diameter 27.1 mm, die axis 45o, Macedonia, Amphipolis mint, 336 - 323 B.C.; obverse head of Herakles right, wearing Nemean Lion skin, scalp over head, forepaws tied at neck; reverse Zeus Aëtophoros seated left on throne without back, right leg forward (archaic lifetime style), eagle in extended right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand, club over Ωw monogram left, AΛEΞANΔPOY clockwise behind; $500.00 (€470.00)
Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria
Herakles is depicted wearing the Nemean lion skin around his neck. The first of Herakles' twelve labors, set by his cousin King Eurystheus, was to slay the Nemean lion and bring back its skin. Herakles discovered arrows and his club were useless against it because its golden fur was impervious to mortal weapons. Its claws were sharper than swords and could cut through any armor. Herakles stunned the beast with his club and, using his immense strength, strangled it to death. During the fight, the lion bit off one of his fingers. After slaying the lion, he tried to skin it with a knife but failed. Wise Athena, noticing the hero's plight, told him to use one of the lion's own claws to skin the pelt.RP114280. Silver tetradrachm, RPC Online III 3536, McAlee 459 (rare), Wruck 156, Prieur 1514, VF, centered, double struck, areas of mild porosity, edge cracks, weight 14.051 g, maximum diameter 25.8 mm, die axis 180o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 109 - 110 A.D.; obverse AVTOKP KAIC NEP TPAIANOC CEB ΓEPM ΔAK (Imperator Caesar Nerva Trajanus Augustus Germanicus Dacicus), laureate head right, club left below, eagle at point of bust standing right with wings closed; reverse ΔHMAPX - EΞ IΔ YΠAT E (tribunicia potestate XIV, consul VI), laureate bust of Melqart-Herakles right, Nemean lion-skin around neck, tied at front; first specimen of this type handled by FORVM; rare; $400.00 (€376.00)
Myrina, Aeolis, c. 188 - 170 B.C., In the Name and Types of Alexander The Great
Temnos (Temnus) on the western coast of Anatolia near the Hermus River, was a small Greek city-state of Aeolis, later incorporated in the Roman province of Asia. Under Augustus it was already on the decline, under Tiberius it was destroyed by an earthquake, and in the time of Pliny (23 - 79 A.D.) it was no longer inhabited. It was, however, rebuilt later. One of the city's more noteworthy figures was the rhetorician Hermagoras.GS114605. Silver tetradrachm, Price 1662, Müller Alexander 935, SNG München -, SNG Alpha Bank -, SNG Saroglos -, SNG Cop -, VF, light tone, attractive style, light silvery encrustations, a few light marks/scratches, weight 16.654 g, maximum diameter 36.0 mm, die axis 0o, Aiolis, Myrina (near Aliaga, Turkey) mint, c. 188 - 170 B.C.; obverse head of Herakles right, wearing Nemean Lion skin, scalp over head, forepaws tied at neck; reverse Zeus Aëtophoros seated left on high-backed throne, bare to the waist, himation around hips and legs, eagle in extended right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand, right leg drawn back, AΛEΞANΔPOY downward on right, amphora in left field, palm branch left in exergue; huge 36 mm flan!, ex Aegean Numismatics; $400.00 (€376.00)
Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria
Herakles is depicted wearing the Nemean lion skin around his neck. The first of Herakles' twelve labors, set by his cousin King Eurystheus, was to slay the Nemean lion and bring back its skin. Herakles discovered arrows and his club were useless against it because its golden fur was impervious to mortal weapons. Its claws were sharper than swords and could cut through any armor. Herakles stunned the beast with his club and, using his immense strength, strangled it to death. During the fight, the lion bit off one of his fingers. After slaying the lion, he tried to skin it with a knife but failed. Wise Athena, noticing the hero's plight, told him to use one of the lion's own claws to skin the pelt.RP114277. Silver tetradrachm, RPC III 3533, Prieur 1496, McAlee 458, Wruck 151, VF, broad flan, double struck, edge cracks, graffito X obverse right field, weight 14.097 g, maximum diameter 27.2 mm, die axis 180o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 103 - 111 A.D.; obverse AVTOKP KAIC NEP TPAIANOC CEB ΓEPM ΔAK (Imperator Caesar Nerva Trajanus Augustus Germanicus Dacicus), laureate head right, club left below, eagle standing right with wings closed at point of bust; reverse ΔHMAPX - EΞ IE YΠAT E (tribunicia potestate, consul V), laureate bust of Melqart-Herakles right, Nemean lion-skin around neck tied at front, cruder larger bust style variant; $350.00 (€329.00)
Domitian, 13 September 81 - 18 September 96 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria
Domitian was at first effective and he spent much of his time in the provinces preserving order. But his reign was marred by paranoia and cruelty in his latter years and he executed many Senators. He was murdered in a plot, allegedly involving his wife.RP114884. Silver tetradrachm, RPC II Online 1976, McAlee 396 (scarce), Prieur 143, Wruck 106, SNG Righetti 1938, BMC Galatia -, SNG Cop -, VF, nearly centered, flow lines, light double strike, weight 14.384 g, maximum diameter 26.9 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 81 - 82 A.D.; obverse AYTOK KAIΣAP ΔOMITIANOΣ ΣEB (Imperator Caesar Domitian Augustus), laureate bust right, wearing aegis with snake; reverse ETOYΣ NEOY IEPOY B (New Holy Year 2), eagle standing right on fulmen (thunderbolt), wings open, head right, tail left, palm frond on right curving left; scarce; $350.00 (€329.00)
Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy III Euergetes, 246 - 222 B.C.
According to Ptolemaic bronze expert Daniel Wolf, "These coins are attributed by Svoronos to Ake-Ptolemaïs (Acre), but modern finds indicate they are most likely from the area near (modern) Bodrum in Turkey." Bodrum was called Halicarnassus, Caria in ancient times and was famous for housing the Mausoleum of Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.GP114040. Bronze obol, Lorber CPE B436; Svoronos 791; Weiser 79; BMC Ptolemies p. 54, 75; SNG Cop 476; Malter 102; Noeske -; Hosking -, Choice VF, near centered, green patina, highlighting earthen deposits, scratches, obv. edge beveled, central depressions, weight 10.403 g, maximum diameter 24.0 mm, die axis 0o, Caria (Halicarnassus?) mint, 246 - 222 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Zeus Ammon right; countermark: six-pointed pellet-star in a round punch; reverse ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ (of King Ptolemy), eagle standing half left on thunderbolt, head left, wings closed, tripod in left field; scarce; $300.00 (€282.00)
Galba, 3 April 68 - 15 January 69 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria
Galba was governor of Hispania Tarraconensis when proclaimed emperor by his troops, 3 Apr 68. The Senate recognized his authority in Jul 68. His avarice, ruthlessness, and refusal to pay a promised donative to the praetorian guards made him unpopular. He was assassinated in a conspiracy plotted by Otho, 15 Jan 69.RY114291. Silver tetradrachm, RPC Online I 4195; Wruck taf. III, 56; Prieur 95; McAlee 304; SNG Hunterian 2849, F, scratches, areas of mild porosity, polished, weight 14.412 g, maximum diameter 26.9 mm, die axis 45o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 68 A.D.; obverse ΓAΛBAC AUTOKPATΩP CEBACTOC KAICAP (clockwise from upper right), laureate head right, star lower right; reverse ETOYC NEOY IEPOY·A, eagle standing left on fulmen (thunderbolt), head left, wings partially open, palm frond left; first specimen of the type handled by FORVM; scarce; $300.00 (€282.00)
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