Nomos AG
obolos 24 21 Aug 2022
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SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Alexander I Balas, 152-145 BC. (Bronze, 20 mm, 5.06 g, 12 h), quasi-municipal issue, Laodikeia in Phoenicia (Berytos), SE 163 = 150-149. Diademed head of Alexander I to right; below head, ΓΞΡ. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ / "of Laodikeia, mother (i.e., metropolis) in Canaan (in Phoenician) Ba'al-Berit (Poseidon) standing facing, holding patera in right hand and trident in left; across field, ΛΑ - monogram of ΦΟ. HGC 9, 912 (R2). Sawaya 77 (D3/R4). SC 1825. Very rare and, despite some striking weakness, actually quite nice for the issue. Glossy dark brown patina. Very fine.
From the Thomas Kirby Collection, USA.
The highly interesting and quite rare Seleukid quasi-municipal coinage from Berytos began during the reign Antiochos IV and lasted until that of Antiochos VIII, a period of about 55 years. The reverse types are varied, but on this largest bronze denomination, the type is consistent across all the reigns in which it was struck: all feature the god Ba'al-Berit, the local version of the Greek Poseidon, along with the Phoenician legend "of Laodikeia, mother (i.e., metropolis) in Canaan.".
From the Thomas Kirby Collection, USA.
The highly interesting and quite rare Seleukid quasi-municipal coinage from Berytos began during the reign Antiochos IV and lasted until that of Antiochos VIII, a period of about 55 years. The reverse types are varied, but on this largest bronze denomination, the type is consistent across all the reigns in which it was struck: all feature the god Ba'al-Berit, the local version of the Greek Poseidon, along with the Phoenician legend "of Laodikeia, mother (i.e., metropolis) in Canaan.".