ELAGABALUS, SIDON, PHOENICIA AE, 218 - 222 C.E.
BMC 245, SNG Cop.255v, About Extremely Fine, repatinated, 30.1mm, 17.64 grams
Obverse: IMP CAESAR MAVANTONINIVS AVG around diademed and draped bust of Elagabalus to right
Reverse: Carriage of Astarte, Baetyl within, two palm branches above, AVRPIA SID COLMET around
The finest example of this Biblical city coin of Phoenicia that we have seen and of the RAREST legend variant. The great majority of examples have METRO to right, ours COL MET
Sidon is known as צידון in the Bible.
