Numismatica Genevensis SA
Auction 9 14 December 2015
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Phoenicia, Byblos. Adramelek. Stater, c. 380 BC. (Silver, 13.31g., 26mm). Galley, with a lion's head and an apotropaic eye on the prow and with three armored hoplites on board, moving left over waves; below, ak above a hippocamp swimming to left over a murex / Adramelek melek gebal Lion, its head seen from above, attacking a bull collapsing to left. Kraay-Hirmer 685.
An attractive and well centered example with striking representations. Extremely fine.
Provenance: Acquired privately from Tradart in December 2005.
Byblos was a very ancient city: it seems to have been occupied since Neolithic times. It had very close ties to Egypt and numerous inscriptions referring to Old Kingdom pharaohs come from the city. Its timber trade was very important, as was its role in the sale of papyrus from Egypt (thus the Greek word byblos, which means papyrus roll). The obverse of this coin is a reference to the city's fleet, which, like that of Tyre's, formed a vital part of the Persian navy. As for the lion and bull on the reverse, that is an age-old eastern symbol of power, just like those we have seen on the coins of Akanthos and Kroisos.
An attractive and well centered example with striking representations. Extremely fine.
Provenance: Acquired privately from Tradart in December 2005.
Byblos was a very ancient city: it seems to have been occupied since Neolithic times. It had very close ties to Egypt and numerous inscriptions referring to Old Kingdom pharaohs come from the city. Its timber trade was very important, as was its role in the sale of papyrus from Egypt (thus the Greek word byblos, which means papyrus roll). The obverse of this coin is a reference to the city's fleet, which, like that of Tyre's, formed a vital part of the Persian navy. As for the lion and bull on the reverse, that is an age-old eastern symbol of power, just like those we have seen on the coins of Akanthos and Kroisos.