Lot 1820

Description

Phoenicia, Tyre, Trajan, (A.D. 98-117), silver tetradrachm (13.698 grams), issued 110-111, obv. Trajan laureate head to right, supported by eagle standing right, club behind, around AYTOKP KA[IC NEP TPAI[ANO]C CEB] **GERM DAK*, rev. laureate bust of Melqarth to right, lion skin knotted at neck, around **DHMAPC [EX I]E UPATE*, (cf.S.1088, Wruck 159, BMC 4). Off centred on obverse, weak in places, otherwise fine and scarce.

The issue was assigned (by Wruck), to Seleucis and Pieria for Antioch ad Orontem mint. Wruck believes the reverse type to be Herakles and not Melqarth. The reverse legend indicates the fifteenth year of tribunician power and this corresponds to A.D. 110-111.