AR Tetradrachm 319/318 BCE
16.95g, 26mm, 12h
Struck under Laomedon, in the types of Alexander III. Sidon, dated RY 15 of Abdalonymos = 319/8 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ to right, O (date) in left field, ΣI below throne.
Price P175; Newell, Dated 45; DCA 878
Sidon is likely among the oldest continuously inhabited cities on the planet. Even by the time Alexander the Great arrived and the city was surrendered to him without a fight, it had a long and rich history. It was among the most important of the Phoenician cities and was mentioned in ancient Egyptian texts.
A number of different civilizations possessed Sidon, and it was generally the city’s (and Phoenicians’) strategy to bow to whatever empire came along while retaining the right to trade. Before Alexander, the Egyptians, Babylonians, and Persians all controlled the city.
Besides trade, Sidon made a good income from the production of glass.
When Alexander took over, the people of Sidon asked him to choose a king. He chose Abdalonymos, who was related to the Sidon monarchy but had chosen the quiet life of a gardener.
After Alexander the Great’s death, Sidon was first claimed by Perdikkas and then taken by Ptolemy. It remained under Lagid control until Roman times.
`Abd`aštart (Straton) I
dated RY 6 = 337/6 BCE 0.86g, 9mm, 12h.
Phoenician galley to left; IIIIII above, waves below / Persian king or hero, holding dagger and standing to right, fighting lion standing to left; [‘B] (in Phoenician) between; all within incuse square.
E&E-S Group IV.5.4.c; DCA 866; HGC 10, 263
Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung 2012
Ex Roma 2021