Nomos 3

PHOENICIA, Byblos. Uzzibaal. Circa 365-350 BC. Dishekel (Silver, 13.36 g 5). Galley, with an eyed prow ending in a ram and a lion’s head figure head, and with three armored Greek hoplites standing left on deck, moving to left above waves; below, Phoenician letters ’z above a hippocamp swiming to left with a murex shell below. Rev. zb’l mlk gbl (in Phoenician) Lion attacking a bull to left. BMC 4-5. SNG Copenhagen 133. A bright and attractive example, well-struck and centered. Extremely fine.

From a S. American collection, ex UBS 63, 6 September 2005, 218.

The coins of the Phoenician cities often commemorate their naval prowess. The lion and bull on the reverse are clearly ‘oriental’ in style, far less ‘Greek’ than the similar type found on the coinage of Akanthos; yet both go back to the same age old Eastern prototype, as found on the much earlier issues of Kroisos of Lydia.