CNG 87, Lot: 887. Estimate $500. Sold for $850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHOENICIA, Berytus. Elagabalus. AD 218-222. Æ (29mm, 16.05 g, 6h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Poseidon advancing right, holding trident and grasping the arm of the nymph Beröe kneeling left, head right, holding ewer over well. Sawaya 1731 (D335/R702) = BMC 184; AUB 102; Lindgren & Kovacs 2268. VF, dark green-brown patina.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group E-202 (14 January 2009), lot 120. J.P. Righetti Collection (Münzen & Medaillen GmbH 20, 10 October 2006), lot 808.

The nymph Beröe was pursued by the gods Dionysos and Poseidon. Zeus intervened and gave Beröe to Poseidon, who granted Berytus (previously called Beroia) victory in naval battles. The reverse design shows Poseidon forcibly taking the nymph, who much preferred the god of wine, and reflects a sculptural group from Berytus’ main temple.