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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Anatolia| ▸ |Lydia||View Options:  |  |  | 

Ancient Coins of Lydia, Antatolia

Lydia lies in east-central Anatolia (Asia Minor) between Ionia and Phrygia. The kingdom of Lydia gradually rose in power in the 7th Century B.C. and by the time of Alyattes and Croesus, it was controlling most of Anatolia after rebuking Medes (the pre-Achaemenid empire). The most important city was Sardis, today Sart, housing impressive ruins. The Lydians were viewed as a merchant people and the kings as extremely wealthy. Croesus gained mythical status and today we still use the expression, "rich as Croesus."

Persian Empire, Lydia, Anatolia, Darius II - Artaxerxes II, c. 420 - 375 B.C.

|Persian| |Lydia|, |Persian| |Empire,| |Lydia,| |Anatolia,| |Darius| |II| |-| |Artaxerxes| |II,| |c.| |420| |-| |375| |B.C.||1/4| |siglos|NEW
This type was minted in Lydia, Anatolia, while under Persian control, prior to Alexander the Great's conquest. The Persian or Achaemenid Empire (c. 550 - 330 B.C.) was the largest empire in ancient history extending across Asia, Africa and Europe, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of Central Asia, Asia Minor, Thrace and Macedonia, much of the Black Sea coastal regions, Iraq, northern Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine and Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and much of ancient Egypt as far west as Libya.Persian Empire
GA114725. Silver 1/4 siglos, Carradice type IV B; BMC Arabia p. 167, 143, pl. XXVI, 27; Rosen 679; Sunrise 37, F, toned, porous, tiny edge crack, weight 1.308 g, maximum diameter 10.4 mm, Sardis (Sart, Turkey) mint, c. 420 - 375 B.C.; obverse kneeling-running figure of the Great King right, drawing bow, bearded, crowned, quiver at shoulder; reverse rectangular incuse; rare denomination; $110.00 (€103.40)


Seleukid Kingdom, Antiochus I Soter, 280 - 261 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Antiochus| |I| |Soter,| |280| |-| |261| |B.C.||AE| |14|
Antiochos' reign was marred by struggle against internal and external enemies, including the betrayal and revolt of his co-regent in the east, his eldest son, whom he was forced to execute. He earned the title savior (soter) of Asia by defeated roving bands of Galatians that had terrorized the cities for years. However, not long after, he lost southern and western Asia Minor to Ptolemy.
GY114635. Bronze AE 14, Houghton-Lorber 315a; Newell WSM 1369; BMC Seleucid p. 13, 58; SNG Spaer 233; SNG Cop 77; SGCV II 6883; HGC 9 167 (R2), aVF, green patina, scratches, areas of light corrosion, weight 2.032 g, maximum diameter 14.4 mm, die axis 0o, Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint, 280 - 261 B.C.; obverse bust of Athena facing, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet; reverse Nike walking left, raising wreath in right hand, long palm frond over left shoulder in left hand, BAΣIΛEΩΣ downward on right, ANTIOXOY downward on right, monogram in circle over line outer left (control); $60.00 (€56.40)


Marcus Aurelius, 7 March 161 - 17 March 180 A.D., Sardes, Lydia

|Sardes|, |Marcus| |Aurelius,| |7| |March| |161| |-| |17| |March| |180| |A.D.,| |Sardes,| |Lydia||AE| |21|
Sardis was the capital of the Kingdom of Lydia, an important city of the Persian Empire, a Roman proconsul seat, and in later Roman and Byzantine times the metropolis of the province Lydia. In the Book of Revelation, Sardis, one of the Seven Churches of Asia, is admonished to be watchful and to strengthen since their works haven't been perfect before God. (Revelation 3:1-6).
RP114638. Bronze AE 21, RPC Online IV.2 T1430; GRPC Lydia IV 449; BMC Lydia p. 258, 143; SNG Cop 528; SNG Tübingen 3813; SNG Leypold I 1218; Lindgren I 817; Weber 6911, aVF, uneven strike with parts of legends weak, light corrosion, light deposits, weight 2.936 g, maximum diameter 20.7 mm, die axis 180o, Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint, as caesar, 140 – 144 A.D.; obverse M AYPHΛIOC KAICAP YΠA, bare-headed, draped youthful bust right, seen from right side; reverse EΠI NEIKOMAXOY CAPΔIANΩN (time of [magistrate] Nikomachos, Sardes), winged caduceus upright; $60.00 (€56.40)


Persian Empire, Lydia, Anatolia, Darius II - Artaxerxes II, c. 420 - 375 B.C.

|Persian| |Lydia|, |Persian| |Empire,| |Lydia,| |Anatolia,| |Darius| |II| |-| |Artaxerxes| |II,| |c.| |420| |-| |375| |B.C.||siglos|
This type was minted in Lydia, Anatolia, while under Persian control, prior to Alexander the Great's conquest. The Persian or Achaemenid Empire (c. 550 - 330 B.C.) was the largest empire in ancient history extending across Asia, Africa and Europe, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of Central Asia, Asia Minor, Thrace and Macedonia, much of the Black Sea coastal regions, Iraq, northern Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine and Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and much of ancient Egypt as far west as Libya.Persian Empire
GA114196. Silver siglos, Carradice Type| IV (middle) B; Carradice Price p. 73 and pl. 19, 223; BMC Arabia p. 171, 172 ff., pl. XXVII, 7 ff.; Rosen 678; SGCV II 4683, VF, thick round flan, scratches, toned, grainy, weight 5.229 g, maximum diameter 14.2 mm, Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint, c. 420 - 375 B.C.; obverse Kneeling-running figure of the Great King right, bearded, crowned, dagger in right hand, bow in left hand; reverse irregular oblong punch; $120.00 (€112.80)


Thyateira, Lydia, c. 218 - 235 A.D.

|Thyatira|, |Thyateira,| |Lydia,| |c.| |218| |-| |235| |A.D.||AE| |19|
Thyateira (also Thyatira) is the ancient name of the modern Turkish city of Akhisar ("white castle"). In Revelation, Thyatira is the church that had a false prophetess (Revelation 2:20).

It is uncertain if Athena is holding a spear over her left shoulder on the obverse of our coin. That such a spear-less variety exists is suggested by both BMC Lydia 32 and 31 (whose reverse depicts Athena holding a patera in place of Nike), although neither coin has been seen by this cataloger. Also, contrary to the claim of RPC Online VI (as of 1 Feb. 2024), Dane Kurth did indeed record our type (assuming it has an obverse spear) under GRPC Lydia 82. Spear or no spear, hopefully the reader has understood the point of this commentary.
GB113946. Bronze AE 19, cf. RPC Online VI T30620 (obv. spear); GRPC Lydia 82 (same); SNG Hunt 1362-1363 (same; leg. arr.); BMC Lydia p. 297, 32 (no obv. spear?; leg. arr.), F, slightly rough, bare metal surfaces, weight 3.557 g, maximum diameter 19.3 mm, die axis 180o, Thyatira (Akhisar, Turkey) mint, time of Elagablus-Sev. Alexander, 218 - 235 A.D.; obverse draped bust of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet and aegis partially fringed with snakes, spear(?) over left shoulder; reverse ΘYAT-E-IPHNΩN, Athena standing facing, helmeted head left, Nike in right hand, grounded shield and upright spear supported with her left hand; $70.00 (€65.80)


Sardes, Lydia, Late 2nd - 1st Century B.C.

|Sardes|, |Sardes,| |Lydia,| |Late| |2nd| |-| |1st| |Century| |B.C.||AE| |23|
Sardis was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, one of the important cities of the Persian Empire, the seat of a proconsul under the Roman Empire, and the metropolis of the province Lydia in later Roman and Byzantine times. Its importance was due first to its military strength, secondly to its situation on an important highway leading from the interior to the Aegean coast, and thirdly to its commanding the wide and fertile plain of the Hermus. As one of the Seven churches of Asia, it was addressed by John, the author of the Book of Revelation in the Holy Bible, in terms which seem to imply that its population was notoriously soft and fainthearted. Remains including the Temple of Artemis, bath-gymnasium complex, synagogue and Byzantine shops are open to visitors year-round.Temple of Artemis
GB113952. Bronze AE 23, cf. SNG Cop 500-503; BMC Lydia p. 242, 53 ff.; SNGvA 3131; Lindgren 808 (uncertain magistrate), F, cleaned bare metal surfaces, porous, scattered tiny pits, weight 7.708 g, maximum diameter 23.4 mm, die axis 0o, Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint, c. 133 - 131 B.C.; obverse draped bust of Artemis right, wearing stephane, bow and quiver at shoulder; reverse Athena standing left, helmeted in long girdled chiton, with Nike carrying wreath in her right hand, while her left rests on grounded shield, ΣAPΔIANΩN downwards behind, uncertain magistrate's name downwards in two lines below Athena's right arm; $50.00 (€47.00)


Marcus Aurelius, 7 March 161 - 17 March 180 A.D., Mostene, Lydia

|Other| |Lydia|, |Marcus| |Aurelius,| |7| |March| |161| |-| |17| |March| |180| |A.D.,| |Mostene,| |Lydia||AE| |35|
Mostene, in ancient Lydia, prospered in Roman and Byzantine eras. There is debate, based on a line in Tacitus, over whether Mostene was a Macedonian colony or a native Lydian city. In 17 A.D. the city was hit by an earthquake and was assisted by relief from Tiberius.
RP113182. Bronze AE 35, Apparently unpublished; GRPC Lydia -, RPC Online IV -, F, dark green patina, earthen deposits, marks, pit lower right, weight 21.592 g, maximum diameter 35.3 mm, die axis 180o, Mostene (Kepecik, Turkey) mint, c. 161 - 162 A.D.; obverse AVT K M AVPH ANTΩNEINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse EΠI AΛEΞANΔPOY APX ΛYΔ MOCTHNΩN (authority of Alexandros, archon, Mostene), Demeter, holding grain and torch?; from the Michael Arslan Collection, ex Solidus auction 123 (25 Jul 2023), lot 359 (part of); the only known specimen; extremely rare; $250.00 (€235.00)


Pergamon, Mysia, Homonoia with Sardis, Lydia, c. 1 A.D.

|Pergamon|, |Pergamon,| |Mysia,| |Homonoia| |with| |Sardis,| |Lydia,| |c.| |1| |A.D.||AE| |23|
Cities in Thrace and Asia Minor sometimes formed homonoia (alliances) with other cities. The competition for prestige and rivalry between cities in the East was intense. Alliances could enhance a city's status by aligning either with many cities or with particularly important ones. Homonoia was part of civic "foreign policy" and might have involved the exchange of delegates and joint celebrations and sacrifices. At least 87 cities issued homonoia coins celebrating their alliances.
RP112906. Brass AE 23, Kampmann 118 (V63/R101); RPC I 2362.18; Franke-Noellé 1492; SNGvA 7497; BMC Mysia p. 166, 360; AMC I 1222; Waddington 955, aF, green patina, weight 4.800 g, maximum diameter 22.5 mm, die axis 0o, Pergamon (Bergama, Turkey) mint, c. 1 A.D.; obverse ΠEPΓAMHNΩN KAI CAPΔIANΩN (Pergamon and Sardis), Demos of Pergamum, standing facing on right with head left, crowning Demos of Sardis, on left, with a wreath,both bearded, wearing himation; reverse temple with two columns, statue of Augustus within, standing facing, head left, wearing military garb, inverted spear in his right hand, CEBACTON (Augustus) arching above, KE-ΦA/ΛI-ΩN / ΓPA-MMA/TEY-ΩN (Kephalion Grammateus) in three divided lines across fields; $50.00 (€47.00)


Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Thyatira, Lydia

|Thyatira|, |Nero,| |13| |October| |54| |-| |9| |June| |68| |A.D.,| |Thyatira,| |Lydia||AE| |17|
Thyateira (also Thyatira) is the ancient name of the modern Turkish city of Akhisar ("white castle"). In Revelation, Thyatira is the church that had a false prophetess (Revelation 2:20).
RP111831. Bronze AE 17, GRPC Lydia IV 139; RPC I 2382; BMC Lydia p. 302, 62; SNG Cop 597; SNG Mun 613; SNG Lewis 1365; Lindgren I 834; McClean 8720; SNGvA -, VF, green patina, nice portrait, earthen deposits, obv. off center, weight 2.292 g, maximum diameter 17.0 mm, die axis 0o, Thyatira (Akhisar, Turkey) mint, first issue, c. 55 A.D.; obverse NEPΩN KΛAYΔI-OC KAICAP CEBA, bare-headed, draped bust of Nero right, wearing light beard (indicating mourning, for the death of Claudius); reverse labrys (double-axe), ΘYAT-ΕIPΗ/NΩ-N in two two lines across field divided by axe handle; $110.00 (€103.40)


Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Sardis, Lydia

|Sardes|, |Nero,| |13| |October| |54| |-| |9| |June| |68| |A.D.,| |Sardis,| |Lydia||AE| |19|
Sardis was the capital of the Kingdom of Lydia, an important city of the Persian Empire, a Roman proconsul seat, and in later Roman and Byzantine times the metropolis of the province Lydia. In the Book of Revelation, Sardis, one of the Seven Churches of Asia, is admonished to be watchful and to strengthen since their works haven't been perfect before God. (Revelation 3:1-6).
RP113207. Bronze AE 19, RPC Online I 2997a; SNG Cop 521; BMC Lydia p. 253, 119; Waddington 5241; Weber 6909, nice F, nice green patina, highlighting earthen deposits, edge splits, weight 6.014 g, maximum diameter 18.7 mm, die axis 180o, Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint, c. 60 A.D.; obverse NEPΩN KAIΣAP (counterclockwise from lower right, N retrograde), laureate head right; reverse EΠI MINΔIOY (counterclockwise from upper left, under Mindios), CAPΔIANΩN (upward on right), Dionysus standing slightly left, head left, cantharus in right hand, thyrsus in left hand, no panther, B (strategos for the 2nd time abbreviated and ligated, downward in left field); from the Michael Arslan Collection; ex Bucephalus Numismatics auction 19 (6 May 2023), lot 399; $120.00 (€112.80)










REFERENCES

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