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

Ancient Greek Coins of Cilicia

In antiquity, Cilicia (also spelled Kilikia) was a southern coastal region of Anatolia, extending inland north from the Mediterranean coast, east from Pamphylia, to the Amanus Mountains, which separated it from Syria. It existed as a political entity from Hittite times into the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia and Byzantine Empire. Cilicia Trachea (rugged Cilicia) is a mountain district formed by the spurs of Taurus, which often terminate in rocky headlands with small sheltered harbors, a feature which, in classical times, made the coast a string of havens for pirates and, in the Middle Ages, outposts for Genoese and Venetian traders. Cilicia Trachea lacked large cities and was covered in ancient times by forests that supplied timber to Phoenicia and Egypt. Cilicia Pedias (flat Cilicia), to the east, included the rugged spurs of Taurus and a large coastal plain, with rich loamy soil, known to the Greeks for its abundance, filled with sesame and millet and olives and pasturage for horses. Many of its high places were fortified. Through the rich plain ran the great highway that linked east and west, on which stood the cities of Tarsos (Tarsus) on the Cydnus (Berdan River), Adana on the Sarus (Seyhan river), and Mopsos (Yakapınar) on the Pyramus (Ceyhan River).

Nero (or Otho or Galba?), 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Mallus, Cilicia

|Nero|, |Nero| |(or| |Otho| |or| |Galba?),| |13| |October| |54| |-| |9| |June| |68| |A.D.,| |Mallus,| |Cilicia||AE| |25|
In "An intriguing new coin from Mallus, Cilicia" (2008), Jyrki Muona, based on a high grade specimen with an excellent portrait, identified the head on this type as Otho. He noted the portrait is influenced by the style of the Antioch mint. Indeed the portrait on that specimen looks very much like the portraits of Otho from Antioch. RPC I attributes the type to Nero but notes, "The portrait does not look much like Nero, but the date seems clear. Could it possibly be a coin of Galba?" We are following RPC I, listing it as Nero, but noting the other possibilities.
RP112383. Bronze AE 25, RPC Online I 4024 (3 spec.), SNG Levante 1269, aVF, dark green patina with traces of red, cleaning scratches, minor flan flaws on rev. edge, weight 9.678 g, maximum diameter 25.4 mm, die axis 0o, Mallus (near Karatas, Turkey) mint, 67 - 68 A.D.; obverse ...CEBACTOC..., laureate head right; reverse MAΛΛΩTΩN, Athena Magarsis standing facing, spear vertical in right hand, star above each arm, EΛP (year 135) outer left; ex CNG e-auction 538 (10 May 2023), lot 413; very rare; $580.00 (€545.20)
 


Severus Alexander and Julia Maesa, 222 - 235 A.D., Ninica-Claudiopolis, Cilicia

|Cilicia|, |Severus| |Alexander| |and| |Julia| |Maesa,| |222| |-| |235| |A.D.,| |Ninica-Claudiopolis,| |Cilicia||AE| |36|
Ammianus mentions Silifke and Claudiopolis as cities of Cilicia, or of the country drained by the Calycadnus; and Claudiopolis was a colony of Claudius Caesar. It is described by Theophanes of Byzantium as situated in a plain between the two Taurus Mountains, a description which exactly, corresponds to the position of the basin of the Calycadnus. Claudiopolis may therefore be represented by Mut, which is higher up the valley than Seleucia, and near the junction of the northern and western branches of the Calycadnus. It is also the place to which the pass over the northern Taurus leads from Laranda. The city received the Roman colony name Colonia Iulia Felix Augusta Ninica.
RB91011. Bronze AE 36, cf. asiaminorcoins.com 6551 (same obv. die & c/m), SNG Levante -, RPC Online -, SNG BnF -, SNG Cop -, BMC Cilicia -, c/m: Howgego 262, F, weak legends, porosity, edge cracks, weight 17.901 g, maximum diameter 35.8 mm, die axis 180o, Ninica-Claudiopolis (Mut, Mersin, Turkey) mint, 222 - 235 A.D.; obverse IMP C SEVERUS ALEXANΔER AVΓ (or similar), laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; c/m: Nike right in c. 5 x 8 mm oval punch (3 times); reverse IVL MAECA COL IVL FEL NINIO CLAUΔIOPOLI (or similar), draped bust of Julia Maesa right; huge 35.8 mm!; ex Forum (2015); extremely rare; $160.00 (€150.40)
 


Philip I the Arab, February 244 - End of September 249 A.D., Diocaesarea, Cilicia

|Cilicia|, |Philip| |I| |the| |Arab,| |February| |244| |-| |End| |of| |September| |249| |A.D.,| |Diocaesarea,| |Cilicia||hexassarion|NEW
Diocaesarea, Cilicia was known as Olba until it was renamed during the reign of Vespasian. According to a legend told by Strabo (Geography, 14.5.10), the temple of Zeus Olbius was founded by Ajax, one of the Greek heroes of the Trojan War. The city and its surrounding territory was a theocracy, ruled by the hereditary priests of the temple.
RP113345. Bronze hexassarion, BMC 18 (same dies); RPC Online VIII U2053; Staffieri Diocaesarea 22; SNG BN 879 var. (rev. leg.); SNG Levante 676 var. (same); c/m: Howgego 470, F, rough brown surfaces, edge split, weight 22.790 g, maximum diameter 33.8 mm, die axis 0o, Olba-Dioceasarea (Mersin Province, Turkey) mint, Feb 244 - End Sep 249 A.D.; obverse AYT K M IOYΛIOC ΦIΛIΠΠOC CE,B (final B in lower right field), radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; c/m: six pointed star in 6.3mm round incuse; reverse AΔPI ΔIOKAICAP-E-ΩN MH, KEN/NA/T (ending in three lines upper center field), Tyche of Diocaesarea on left, seated right, turreted and draped, stalks of grain in right hand; Tyche of Olba on right, standing left, draped, kalathos on head, rudder in right hand, cornucopia in left hand; river-god Calycadnus(?) swimming left below; big AE34!, ex CNG e-sale 537 (26 Apr 2023), lot 330; ex Dr. Michael Slavin Collection; $100.00 (€94.00) ON RESERVE


Domitian, 13 September 81 - 18 September 96 A.D., Anazarbus, Cilicia

|Cilicia|, |Domitian,| |13| |September| |81| |-| |18| |September| |96| |A.D.,| |Anazarbus,| |Cilicia||tetrassarion|
Anazarbus was founded by Assyrians. Under the early Roman Empire it was known as Kaicare?n (Caesarea), and was the Metropolis (capital) of the late Roman province Cilicia Secunda. It was the home of the poet Oppian. Rebuilt by the Byzantine emperor Justin I after an earthquake in the 6th century, it became Justinopolis (525); but the old native name persisted, and when Thoros I, king of Lesser Armenia, made it his capital early in the 12th century, it was known as Anazarva.
RP113540. Bronze tetrassarion, Ziegler 94 (Vs2/Rs5), RPC Online II 1753 (6 spec.), SNG Levante 1373, SNGvA 5473, SNG BnF -, aF, nice patina, weight 16.348 g, maximum diameter 30.9 mm, die axis 0o, Anazarbus (Anavarza, Turkey) mint, 94 - 95 A.D.; obverse AYTO KAI ΘE YIOΣ ΔOMITIANOΣ ΣE ΓEP (clockwise from upper right), laureate head right, fillet border; reverse KAIΣAPEΩN ΠP ANAZAPBΩ (ΠP ligate), Athena standing front, helmeted head left, spear in her right hand, left on grounded shield, ET-OYΣ / IΓP (year 113) in two lines divided across fields; $100.00 (€94.00)
 


Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Irenopolis-Neronias, Cilicia

|Cilicia|, |Severus| |Alexander,| |13| |March| |222| |-| |March| |235| |A.D.,| |Irenopolis-Neronias,| |Cilicia||diassarion|
Irenopolis or Eirenopolis or Eirenoupolis, known briefly as Neronias in honor of the Roman emperor Nero, was in northeastern Cilicia, not far from the Calycadnus river, on the site of modern Düzici, Osmaniye province, Turkey, at the mouth of the Darb al-'Ain pass. It was probably founded by Antiochus IV of Commagene. Coins of the city show that Asclepius and Hygeia were worshiped there, probably connected with the natural spring of the area. The city is mentioned by Hierocles, Nicephore, and Calliste. Christianity first came to the area in the 1st century; the mountain pass location made it an early candidate for missionaries. The city came under Muslim rule following the Battle of Manzikert in 1071.
RP114001. Bronze diassarion, RPC Online VI T6880.6 (this coin, 5 spec.); Karbach Eirenopolis 115; Lindgren I 1520; SNG BnF –; SNG Levante –, aVF, dark green-brown patina, deposits, weight 4.893 g, maximum diameter 19.7 mm, die axis 180o, Irenopolis (Düzici, Turkey) mint, 224 - 225 A.D.; obverse AYT KAI CEY AΛEΞANΔPOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse EIPHNOΠOΛ ΔOP (Irenopolis [year] 174), draped bust of Dionysus right, wearing ivy wreath, thyrsus over shoulder; ex CNG e-auction 543 (2 Aug 2023), lot 331; first of the type handled by FORVM, this coin is one of only two of the type Coin Archives records at auction in the last two decades; very rare; $100.00 (€94.00)
 


Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Irenopolis, Cilicia

|Cilicia|, |Trajan,| |25| |January| |98| |-| |8| |or| |9| |August| |117| |A.D.,| |Irenopolis,| |Cilicia||AE| |18|
Irenopolis or Eirenopolis or Eirenoupolis, known briefly as Neronias in honor of the Roman emperor Nero, was in northeastern Cilicia, not far from the Calycadnus river, on the site of modern Düzici, Osmaniye province, Turkey, at the mouth of the Darb al-'Ain pass. It was probably founded by Antiochus IV of Commagene. Coins of the city show that Asclepius and Hygeia were worshiped there, probably connected with the natural spring of the area. The city is mentioned by Hierocles, Nicephore, and Calliste. Christianity first came to the area in the 1st century; the mountain pass location made it an early candidate for missionaries. The city came under Muslim rule following the Battle of Manzikert in 1071.
RP114042. Bronze AE 18, Karbach Eirenopolis 20-23, RPC Online III 3389, SNG BnF 2251, SNG Leypold 2395, SNG Tahberer 590, SNG Levante 1604, Ziegler 1330, aVF, green patina, encrustation, spots of corrosion (stable) , weight 3.424 g, maximum diameter 18.4 mm, die axis 0o, Irenopolis (Düzici, Turkey) mint, 98 - 99 A.D.; obverse AYTO KAICAP TPAIANOC (Imperator Caesar Traianus), laureate head right; reverse IPHNOΠOΛEITΩN ZM (year 47), Eirene-Nemesis standing right, winged, drawing out drapery from neck with right hand, caduceus downward in left hand, wheel at feet on right; $90.00 (€84.60)
 


Plautilla, Augusta 202 - 22 January 205 A.D., Anazarbus, Cilicia

|Cilicia|, |Plautilla,| |Augusta| |202| |-| |22| |January| |205| |A.D.,| |Anazarbus,| |Cilicia||assarion|
Anazarbus was founded by Assyrians. Under the early Roman Empire it was known as Caesarea, and was the metropolis (capital) of the late Roman province Cilicia Secunda. It was the home of the poet Oppian. Rebuilt by the Byzantine emperor Justin I after an earthquake in the 6th century, it became Justinopolis (525); but the old native name persisted, and when Thoros I, king of Lesser Armenia, made it his capital early in the 12th century, it was known as Anazarva.
RP111634. Bronze assarion, SNG Levante 1411, Ziegler 295, SNG BnF -, SNG Cop -, VF, well centered, broad flan, obverse encrustation, scratches, weight 4.399 g, maximum diameter 19.8 mm, die axis 0o, Anazarbus (Anavarza, Turkey) mint, 202 - 203 A.D.; obverse ΦOY ΠΛAYTIΛΛA, draped bust right; reverse ANAZAPBEΩN NEΩK ET, prize-crown inscribed OΛYMΠIA, AKC ([year] 221) above; rare; $80.00 (€75.20)
 


Seleukid Kingdom, Antiochus II Theos, 261 - 246 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Antiochus| |II| |Theos,| |261| |-| |246| |B.C.||AE| |18|NEW
Antiochus II Theos was the son of Antiochus I and Princess Stratonice, the daughter of Demetrius Poliorcetes. He inherited a state of war with Egypt and while he was thus occupied, his satraps in Parthia and Bactria declared independence. To make peace with Egypt and to seal the treaty, Antiochus repudiated his wife Laodice I, exiled her to Ephesus, and married Ptolemy II's daughter Berenice. Antiochus later left Berenice and their infant son Antiochus, to live again with Laodice. Laodice poisoned him, had Berenice and her infant son murdered, and proclaimed her son Seleucus II as king.
GB113957. Bronze AE 18, Houghton-Lorber I 566.1 corr. (rev. leg. arr.), Newell WSM 1314α, HGC 9 264 (R2) var. (rev. monogram r.), BMC Seleucid -, aVF, dark green patina, with light earthen deposits, obv. slightly off-center, tiny edge crack, weight 3.786 g, maximum diameter 17.6 mm, die axis 0o, Cilicia, Tarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey) mint, 261 - 246 B.C.; obverse the Dioscuri galloping on horseback right, both wearing a pilos surmounted by a star (obscured), spears raised vertically in right hands; reverse Athena Promachos standing right, brandishing javelin in right hand, shield in left hand, BAΣIΛΕΩΣ upward on left, ANTIOXOY upward on right, anchor with flukes left under Athena in exergue; very rare; $80.00 (€75.20) ON RESERVE


Commodus, March or April 177 - 31 December 192 A.D., Tarsos, Cilicia

|Cilicia|, |Commodus,| |March| |or| |April| |177| |-| |31| |December| |192| |A.D.,| |Tarsos,| |Cilicia||AE| |27|
The title Neokoros, designating a guardian of a temple of the imperial cult, was highly prized and advertised on the coins of many cities. Tarsos was the first city in Cilicia to receive the title, during the reign of Hadrian, not long after 130 A.D. This first temple dedicated to the cult of Hadrian is named in the reverse legend. A second imperial temple was dedicated to Commodus during his reign, before August 191. The B (the Greek number two) indicates this second neokorie. The Kommodeios isolympic worldwide festival was held in honor of this temple. Commodus probably honored Tarsos because its chief god was Hercules, and Commodus had come to believe he was Hercules reincarnated.
RP97264. Bronze AE 27, RPC Online IV.3 T5845, SNG Levante Supp. 260, SNG BnF 1466, SNGvA 5997, Waddington 4636, VF, nice green patina, uneven slightly off-center strike with parts of legends weak or unstruck, weight 11.189 g, maximum diameter 26.8 mm, die axis 30o, Tarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey) mint, Mar/Apr 177 - 31 Dec 192 A.D.; obverse AYT KAIC AYP KOMOΔOC CEB, mantled bust right, wearing demiurgic crown; club of Hercules behind; reverse AΔP KOM - TAP MHO (Hadrianeia, Kommodeios - Tarsos Metropolis), agonistic crown inscribed KOMOΔEI, OIKO/VME (Kommodeios worldwide) in two lines above, B / NEWKO (two neokorie) in two lines below; ex Zeus Numismatics, auction 11 (01 Aug 2020), lot 453 (realized £60 plus fees); $70.00 (€65.80)
 


Hierapolis-Kastabala, Cilicia, 2nd - 1st Century B.C.

|Cilicia|, |Hierapolis-Kastabala,| |Cilicia,| |2nd| |-| |1st| |Century| |B.C.||AE| |20|
Hierapolis-Kastabala is located three kilometers north of the Ceyhan River (the ancient Pyramus) in the southern Turkish province of Osmaniye. Alexander the Great stopped at Kastabala before the Battle of Issus in 333 B.C. Antiochus IV renamed the city Hierapolis.
GB110012. Bronze AE 20, SNG BnF 2216 var. (monogram); SNGvA 5570 var. (same); BMC Lycaonia p. 82, 3 var. (same); SNG Levante 1569 var. (same); SNG Cop 144 var. (same), gF, green patina, scratches, weight 6.685 g, maximum diameter 20.1 mm, die axis 0o, Cilicia, Hierapolis-Castabala (Kirmitli, Turkey) mint, 2nd - 1st century B.C.; obverse veiled head of Tyche right with turreted crown, monogram (control) behind; reverse The river-god Pyramos swimming right, eagle standing right on right hand, IEPO/ΠOΛITΩN in two lines above, TΩN ΠPOΣ TΩ/I ΠVP AMΩI in two lines below; ex Classical Numismatic Group, ex Richard L. Horst Collection; monogram missing from references but one specimen on coin archives; $65.00 (€61.10)
 




  



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REFERENCES

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