PHOENICIA, Tyre. Philip I. AD 244-249. Æ (31mm, 18.31 g, 7h). Near VF.

CNG Feature Auction 132
Lot: 648. Estimated: $ 750

Roman Provincial, Bronze, Coin-in-Hand Video

Sold For $ 3 250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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PHOENICIA, Tyre. Philip I. AD 244-249. Æ (31mm, 18.31 g, 7h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Cadmus presenting the alphabet to the Hellenes: Cadmus standing left, holding spear, presenting a tablet to the first of four Greeks standing right; murex shell at Cadmus’ feet, [ЄΛΛH, KAΔMOC] in exergue. RPC VIII Online 6505; Rouvier 2446. Brown patina with earthen highlights, flan flaw, flan preparation marks. Near VF. Extremely rare, only two recorded in RPC.

It is generally accepted that the Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet in the early 8th century BC, although Herodotus records that the Phoencian prince Cadmus introduced the alphabet to the Hellenes circa 2000 BC. This extremely rare and highly interesting issue explicitly names the figures and represents the legend as recorded in Herodotus 5.58:

The Phoenicians who came with Cadmus—amongst whom were the Gephyraei—introduced into Greece, after their settlement in the country, a number of accomplishments, of which the most important was writing, an art till then, I think, unknown to the Greeks. At first they used the same characters as all the other Phoenicians, but as time went on, and they changed their language, they also changed the shape of their letters. At that period most of the Greeks in the neighborhood were Ionians; they were taught these letters by the Phoenicians and adopted them, with a few alterations, for their own use, continuing to refer to them as the Phoenician characters—as was only right, as the Phoenicians had introduced them.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session Three – Lot 588-888 will be held Tuesday morning, 19 May 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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