After the defeat of Perseus at the battle of Pydna, for twenty years, from 168 to 148 B.C., Macedonia was divided into four autonomous administrative regions. To weaken the power of the area and increase dependence on the empire, Rome took control of the mines and forests, demanded half of all taxes collected and banned trade between the regions. No coins were issued from 168 - 158 B.C. Between 158 and 148 B.C. the first (PROTES) region minted a large number of tetradrachms at its capital, Amphipolis. The second (DEUTERAS) region minted a small number of very rare tetradrachm at Thessalonica. The third region, its capital at Pella, and the fourth region, its capital at Heraclea Lynci, did not issue silver. In 148 B.C. the regions were reunited as a Roman province. Silver coinage was not struck for another half century, however, bronze coins were issued by governors, praetors, quaestors and individual cities. In 93 B.C., silver coinage resumed, the most prolific issue was that of the quaestor Aesillas. Macedonian cities continued to issue coinage in imperial times, some without the imperial bust.