NEWP: Tyrian Shekel

Zohar · November 4, 2014 10:54AM

This one is currently in transit and highly anticipated. I had wanted one for quite some time, where the challenge has been finding a well struck, eye appealing and reasonably centered piece. This one has most elements, perhaps a bit off centering on obverse. The historical significance is well known - LINK TO WIKI

PHOENICIA. Tyre. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. AR Shekel. 30mm, 14.50gr. Dated CY 47 (80/79 BC). Obv: Bust of Melqart right, wearing laurel wreath and lion's skin around neck. Rev: Eagle standing left on prow, palm frond over right wing; to left, ZM (date) above club; ZB to right, Phoenician B between legs. HGC 10, 357. Rouvier 2031. DCA 919. Deeply struck on a large flan with superb eye appeal. NGC Ch AU 4/5, 5/5.

mdwoods · November 4, 2014 11:08AM

Wow, what a lovely coin. That eagle rocks.

Aethelred · November 4, 2014 11:13AM

Damn, you suck!

Zohar · November 4, 2014 11:16AM

<< Damn, you suck! >>

Now that is validation! Thank you!

EVillageProwler · November 4, 2014 11:19AM

NiceCurrency · November 4, 2014 11:37AM

What a gorgeous example of this popular type, very nice Zohar

Melqart and the eagle are practically jumping off of that deeply struck coin!

worldcoinguy · November 4, 2014 11:55AM

Awesome piece Zohar. Its a very powerful reverse design, no?

astrorat · November 4, 2014 12:37PM

Nice ... and it's double struck to boot!

lordmarcovan · November 4, 2014 3:46PM

Is that Judas' thumbprint I see on the obverse?

TIF2 · November 4, 2014 8:06PM

It is gorgeous, like the rest of your fine coins!

lordmarcovan · November 4, 2014 8:37PM

Yes, it is.

But Melqart must've mumbled a lot, with lips like that.

marcmoish · November 5, 2014 3:22AM

wow indeed - what a crisp strike to think this is from way back when....and the EA rocks altogether.

..like i told you privately if it wasn't graded & authenticated I would wonder...

you are generating way too many I hate you's...

LochNESS · November 5, 2014 3:43AM

<< … The historical significance is well known - LINK TO WIKI >>

For those who haven't clicked, I did and was surprised to learn that Melqart aka Ba'al ("lord") was known by our Jewish brethren as Ba'al-zebub (later, Beelzebub meaning "lord of the flies"). Apparently it was common to demonize the gods of your enemy, and since Melqart was a major Phoenician (and Greek) god, the Jews demonized him.

Beelzebub wiki

This was all news to me! So fascinating what these coins can teach us.

NiceCurrency · November 5, 2014 4:02AM

<< 

<< … The historical significance is well known - LINK TO WIKI >>

For those who haven't clicked, I did and was surprised to learn that Melqart aka Ba'al ("lord") was known by our Jewish brethren as Ba'al-zebub (later, Beelzebub meaning "lord of the flies"). Apparently it was common to demonize the gods of your enemy, and since Melqart was a major Phoenician (and Greek) god, the Jews demonized him.

Beelzebub wiki

This was all news to me! So fascinating what these coins can teach us. >>

indeed, learning about the history and mythology/theology tied to this stuff is pretty cool imo

conveniently Rome claimed their enemies sacrificed humans as well

LochNESS · November 5, 2014 4:23AM

Perhaps what struck (pardon the pun) me the most is how a verbal slur like Ba'al-zebub, which was likely used to refer to multiple gods and rulers, evolved over centuries into a singular theological entity (the devil?).
By the time Christianity entered the arena, Beelzebub is depicted in artistic renderings and literature and is synonymous with the devil. Not only the spelling and pronunciation changed but the entire perception and reference changed. Crazy!

LochNESS · November 5, 2014 4:26AM

BTW, Zohar, just realized I never remarked about the amazing-ness of this coin! That eagle is incredible! The lettering is the clearest I have ever seen on any ancient. Really superb.

trozau · November 5, 2014 4:28AM

Nice.

Aethelred · November 5, 2014 4:37AM

<< 

<< … The historical significance is well known - LINK TO WIKI >>

For those who haven't clicked, I did and was surprised to learn that Melqart aka Ba'al ("lord") was known by our Jewish brethren as Ba'al-zebub (later, Beelzebub meaning "lord of the flies"). Apparently it was common to demonize the gods of your enemy, and since Melqart was a major Phoenician (and Greek) god, the Jews demonized him.

Beelzebub wiki

This was all news to me! So fascinating what these coins can teach us. >>

VERY interesting!

NiceCurrency · November 5, 2014 4:42AM

<< Perhaps what struck (pardon the pun) me the most is how a verbal slur like Ba'al-zebub, which was likely used to refer to multiple gods and rulers, evolved over centuries into a singular theological entity (the devil?).
By the time Christianity entered the arena, Beelzebub is depicted in artistic renderings and literature and is synonymous with the devil. Not only the spelling and pronunciation changed but the entire perception and reference changed. Crazy! >>

how religions transformed over time is interesting in and of itself, a shame there's been so much killing over it though

ok enough derail, carry on, the doubling is icing on the already delicious cake that is this fun coin

Zohar · November 5, 2014 5:47AM

Loch & all thank you. For those into Rock Music a reference in Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody

But I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Easy come easy go - will you let me go
Bismillah! No - we will not let you go - let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go - let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go - let me go
Will not let you go - let me go (never)
Never let you go - let me go
Never let me go - ooo
No, no, no, no, no, no, no -
Oh mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me
for me for me

SmEagle1795 · November 5, 2014 6:16AM

Very nice! A little bit of obverse die rust but a very attractive example. I imagine the relief of the eagle is quite impressive on it as well, considering the concavity of the reverse.

lordmarcovan · November 5, 2014 8:46AM

Now I have Bohemian Rhapsody stuck in my head.

Beats the hell outta the Oscar Mayer Weiner jingle.

The late, great Freddie Mercury was a genius.

I remember when the Wayne's World movie came out, and suddenly that song was getting heavy radio airplay again. It was great.

Zohar · November 5, 2014 8:54AM

Rob - I just corresponded offline with a forum member how Freddie Mercury was a genious. What voice and showmanship. One in a generation.

LINK

LochNESS · November 7, 2014 6:19PM

<< I remember when the Wayne's World movie came out, and suddenly that song was getting heavy radio airplay again. It was great. >>

Such a great movie. They don't make 'em like that anymore, not really. Same can be said for the music although there are some talented artists in today's market. I think the problem is they aren't being given the freedom to release the songs they want. The artists who have the freedom (the ones who aren't signed to a major label) don't have the industry pushing their songs into the stratosphere.

Imagine if Queen had released "Bohemian Rhapsody" in today's market? Do you really think it would have garnered international fame? I'm not so sure. I love Freddie Mercury and Queen - one of my top 5 all-time favorite bands - but I don't see them making it without a label in their corner.

STLNATS · November 7, 2014 11:29PM

<< This one is currently in transit and highly anticipated. I had wanted one for quite some time, where the challenge has been finding a well struck, eye appealing and reasonably centered piece. This one has most elements, perhaps a bit off centering on obverse. The historical significance is well known - LINK TO WIKI
] >>

Very nice example indeed. It's always struck me as odd/ironic that this coin, which featured a pagan god on the obverse, was acceptable for the temple tax while a wide range of other coins were not. And the generall acceptence of the use of this type for the "30 pieces of silver" is also significant. Probably the most iconic of all "coins of the Bible." Lots going on a very pretty little silver disk!

Congrats.

LochNESS · November 8, 2014 5:28PM

Speaking of "30 pieces of silver," look at this genuine example in PCGS plastic. Really makes you appreciate Zohar's stunning example, huh? What a difference.

Seller says "PCGS does not normally grade ancient coins but they did grade a specific lot of ancient shekels for the New York Mint some time ago."

Huh? Who/what is the "New York Mint" the name of a dealer"

TIF2 · November 8, 2014 6:17PM

<< Speaking of "30 pieces of silver," look at this genuine example in PCGS plastic. Really makes you appreciate Zohar's stunning example, huh? What a difference.

Seller says "PCGS does not normally grade ancient coins but they did grade a specific lot of ancient shekels for the New York Mint some time ago."

Huh? Who/what is the "New York Mint" the name of a dealer" >>

Fake slab. Here's what PCGS's cert verification shows:

eBay seller's photos:

Zohar · November 9, 2014 12:46AM

I saw that one floating on Ebay and was wondering. Good forensics guys/gals!

Zohar · November 9, 2014 12:47AM

<< Very nice! A little bit of obverse die rust but a very attractive example. >>

How can I see where/what die rust looks like?

STLNATS · November 9, 2014 1:14AM

<< Fake slab. >>

Interesting. Guess that doesn't provide much confidence for the coin itself. Gotta agree, nice bit of validation TIF2.

Hussulo · November 9, 2014 1:15AM

<< 

<< Very nice! A little bit of obverse die rust but a very attractive example. >>

How can I see where/what die rust looks like? >>

Superb coin Zohar.

Die rust on this example can be seen around the face of the obverse. If you look at the face you can see raised pitted areas just behind the nose. Basically the die must of rusted before the minter struck the coin. Where the rusting on the die would be pitted into the die, when the coin is struck it would show it as raised areas.

To be honest I don't find it distracting, if anything it shows the coin hasn't circulated much as it would be worn away.

STLNATS · November 9, 2014 1:16AM

<< How can I see where/what die rust looks like? >>

Amongst other things, die rust often creates small pits on the surface of the die and can look like/be mistaken for small casting bubbles.

edited to add: oops, beat me to it with a better answer!

Huh? Who/what is the "New York Mint" the name of a dealer"

Site from a quick google search. NY Mint

MacCrimmon · November 9, 2014 1:37AM

<< 

<< 

<< Very nice! A little bit of obverse die rust but a very attractive example. >>

How can I see where/what die rust looks like? >>

Superb coin Zohar.

Die rust on this example can be seen around the face of the obverse. If you look at the face you can see raised pitted areas just behind the nose. Basically the die must of rusted before the minter struck the coin. Where the rusting on the die would be pitted into the die, when the coin is struck it would show it as raised areas.

To be honest I don't find it distracting, if anything it shows the coin hasn't circulated much as it would be worn away. >>

I also noted that but took it for an example of LDS die erosion given the dies were obviously not as "hardened" as modern dies, but still extensively used. Same phenom is also often seen on Jeff nickels of the 1950s/60s where they used 'em till they were putty.

NEWP: Tyrian Shekel

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