Phoenicia, Arados. 1/16 Shekel 380-351/0 BC/ Ba'al-Arwad Bust (χωρίς τιμή ασφαλείας)

PHOENICIA. Arados. Circa 380-351/0 BC. 1/16 Shekel (Silver, 9.6 mm, 0.85 g, 12h).

Obverse : Laureate head of Ba'al-Arwad to right.
Reverse : . 𐡌𐡀 ('ma' in Aramaic) Galley right over two lines of waves.

The photos are high enlargements of the coin, so the coin is far nicer in hand than in the images.

Cataloged as :Betlyon 13. HGC 10, 46. SNG Copenhagen 19-22. Beautifully toned. Test cuts on edge, otherwise, good very fine


Baal Arwad refers to the main god worshipped on the island city-state of Arwad, an ancient Phoenician settlement located off the coast of modern-day Syria. Arwad was one of the most prominent Phoenician city-states and played a significant role in trade and maritime activities in the Mediterranean.
The worship of Baal Arwad was a central aspect of the island's religious practices. Baal Arwad was likely a local manifestation or adaptation of the broader deity Baal, who was associated with fertility, agriculture, and the forces of nature in Phoenician culture. The people of Arwad would have emphasized aspects of Baal's power that were relevant to their maritime and island lifestyle.