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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Anatolia||View Options:   | | | Anatolia is the region comprising most of modern Turkey, bounded by the Black (North), Aegean (West) and Mediterranean (South) seas; to the East it is bounded by the Taurus Mountains and main Asia. The name comes from Ionian Greek meaning "the land of the sunrise" or simply "the East." It was named Asia Minor by the Romans. The land is first mentioned by Akkadian records, and played a very important role for all subsequent Mesopotamian civilizations. We should not forget to add that Anatolia is the birthplace of coinage in the late 7th Century B.C.! |
According to Strabo the Greek name Amaseia comes from Amasis, the queen of the Amazons, who were said to have lived here. The name has changed little throughout history: Amaseia, Amassia, and Amasia are all found on ancient Greek and Roman coinage and continue to be used in modern Greek. Modern Turkish Amasya represents the same pronunciation. Amaseia was captured by the Roman Lucullus in 70 B.C. from Armenia. Pompey designated it a free city and the administrative center of the new province of Bithynia and Pontus. Amaseia was a thriving city, the home of thinkers, writers, and poets. Strabo left a full description of Amaseia as it was between 60 B.C. and 19 A.D.GB115021. Bronze AE 15, SNG BM 1046; SNG Stancomb 655; BMC Pontus p. 6, 2; Rec Gén p. 28, 4; HGC 7 225, F, centered on a tight flan, light marks, weight 4.107 g, maximum diameter 15.3 mm, die axis 0o, Amaseia (Amasya, Turkey) mint, c. 120 - 100 B.C.; obverse draped bust of youthful Perseus right, head bare and wing in hair; reverse cornucopia between two pilei (caps of the Dioskouroi), eight-rayed star above each cap, AMAΣ-ΣEIAΣ divided across field below caps; from Shawn Caza, former diplomat, author of A Handbook of Late Roman Coins (Spink, 2021), collection assembled during postings and international travel; ex Dorotheum (Vienna, Austria); $90.00 (€84.60)
Elaia, Aeolis, c. 340 - 275 B.C.
Herodotus describes the following story relevant to the olive wreath. Xerxes was interrogating some Arcadians after the Battle of Thermopylae. Asked why there were so few Greek men defending the Thermopylae, they answered, "All other men are participating in the Olympic Games." And when asked "What is the prize for the winner?", "An olive-wreath" came the answer. Then Tigranes, one of his generals uttered a most noble saying: "Good heavens! Mardonius, what kind of men are these against whom you have brought us to fight? Men who do not compete for possessions, but for honor."MA115024. Bronze AE 11, cf. SNG Cop 169; SNGvA 1605; SNG Munchen 386; SNG Tübingen 2685; BMC Troas p. 126, 11, aF, weight 1.569 g, maximum diameter 10.9 mm, Elaia (near Zeytindag, Turkey) mint, c. 340 - 275 B.C.; obverse head of Athena left in Corinthian helmet; reverse Ε - Λ either side of grain kernel, the whole within olive wreath; from Shawn Caza, former diplomat, author of A Handbook of Late Roman Coins (Spink, 2021), collection assembled during postings and international travel; ex Dorotheum (Vienna, Austria); $40.00 (€37.60)
Nysa, Lydia, c. 100 - 30 B.C.
The type as described in GRPC Lydia, etc., does not name a magistrate on the reverse. Based on the plates, however, the inscriptions are obscure; they may also name Simon. Perhaps our coin is the same type just on an larger flan. It is either unpublished and the only specimen known to FORVM, or the only specimen of the extremely rare published type with clear inscriptions. There have been zero sales of this type on Coin Archives in the last two decades.GB115029. Bronze AE 12, cf. GRPC Lydia III pl. 198, 32 (0.7g, 8mm, no magistrate named); Nysa Regling 24 (same); SNG München 23, 357 (same); RPC Online I -, gF, well centered on a broad flan, weight 1.353 g, maximum diameter 11.7 mm, die axis 180o, Nysa (near Sultanhisar, Turkey) mint, c. 100 - 30 B.C.; obverse bearded and laureate head of Hades right, anepigraphic; reverse poppy head on stalk, ear of barley below right, diagonal to right, NYΣAE-ΩN clockwise from above, ΣIMΩN (Simon [magistrate) downward on left end curving counterclockwise; from Shawn Caza, former diplomat, author of A Handbook of Late Roman Coins (Spink, 2021), collection assembled during postings and international travel; ex Dorotheum (Vienna, Austria);; unique or extremely rare; $160.00 (€150.40)
Mylasa, Caria, c. 420 - 390 B.C.
Mylasa was often mentioned by ancient writers. The first mention is from early 7th century B.C., when Arselis, a Carian leader from Mylasa, helped Gyges in his fight for the Lydian throne. Under Persia, Mylasa was the chief city of Caria. Mylasa joined the Delian League c. 455 B.C., but Persian rule was restored by 400. Mylasa was the hometown and first capital of the Hecatomnid dynasty, nominally Persian satraps, but practically kings of Caria and the surrounding region, 377 - 352 B.C. In the Hellenistic era, the city was contested by Alexander's successors, but prospered. Mylasa was severely damaged in the Roman Civil War in 40 B.C., but again regained prosperity under Roman rule.GA115020. Silver tetartemorion, SNG Kayhan 944, HN Online T977, weight 2.047 g, maximum diameter 6.3 mm, Mylasa (Milas, Turkey) mint, c. 420 - 390 B.C.; obverse lion forepart left, head turned back right, roaring; reverse bird standing right, two pellets - upper left and lower right, all in incuse square; from Shawn Caza, former diplomat, author of A Handbook of Late Roman Coins (Spink, 2021); ex Dorotheum (Vienna, Austria); rare; $38.00 (€35.72)
Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Hadrianopolis-Sebaste, Phrygia
Coins of Hadrianopolis-Sebaste in Phrygia are relatively scarce and their somewhat barbaric-looking busts and poorly engraved legends can usually help to distinguish its coins from the better engraved coins of Hadrianopolis, Thrace. Also note, Hadrianopolis-Sebaste is not the same city as Sebaste, Phrygia. -- www.wildwinds.comRP114417. Bronze AE 23, RPC V.2 (to be published; 3 spec. incl. this coin), cf. Waddington 6065 (Sept. Sev.; same rev. die), Lindgren III 589 (same) corr. (Commodus), Choice F, barbaric style, good centering, green patina, minor encrustations, weight 5.204 g, maximum diameter 23.4 mm, die axis 180o, Hadrianopolis-Sebaste (near Doganhisar, Turkey) mint, c. 198-211 A.D., Mnesitheos, son of Hieron (magis); obverse M AY?AN-T℧NEINOC (NEI ligate), laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse CEB? AΔPIANOΠ-O EΠI?MNHC IEPO? (NH ligate), Tyche-Fortuna standing facing, head left, kalathos on head, in right hand rudder on globe, cornucopia in left; added to the (still in progress) RPC V.2 database!; very rare ; $165.00 (€155.10)
Tarsos, Cilicia, Tiribazos, Satrap of Lydia, c. 388 - 380 B.C.
Astragaloi were gaming pieces made from the knuckle-bones of sheep or goats, used in antiquity in for divination and games in a manner similar to dice.GS114999. Silver obol, SNG BnF 239, SNG Levante 65, Göktürk 17, Casabonne type K2, Ziegler 606, VF, toning, flow lines, scratches, edge splits,, weight 0.476 g, maximum diameter 9.3 mm, die axis 105o, Tarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey) mint, under Tiribazos Satrap of Lydia, c. 388 - 380 B.C.; obverse woman seated left, tossing astragaloi; reverse youthful male head right; $80.00 (€75.20)
Neandria, Troas, c. 4th Century B.C.
In the 5th century B.C. Neandreia was a member of the Delian League. Probably following the defeat of Athens in the Peloponnesian War in 404, Neandreia came under the influence of Zenis, the dynast of Dardanus, who controlled the Troad on behalf of the Persian satrap Pharnabazos. Under Zenis and his wife and successor Mania, a garrison of Greek troops was installed in Neandreia. In 399 B.C., this garrison was expelled and the city freed by the Spartan commander Dercylidas. In the late 5th or early 4th century B.C. a new circuit of walls was constructed. Later in the 4th century B.C. there was further construction including housing on a rectangular grid, a complex internal drainage system, and possibly a theater. The excavators estimate that in this period the city consisted of 230 houses and a population of about 2,500 individuals. About 310 B.C., Antigonus I Monophthalmus founded Antigonia Troas (after 301 B.C. renamed Alexandria Troas) as a synoecism of the surrounding cities of the Troad, including Neandreia. The earliest coinage of the new city adopted the coin types of Neandreia, which displayed a grazing horse, and this remained Alexandria Troas' emblem on its coinage for the rest of antiquity. From this point on, Neandreia had no independent political existence, hence in the 1st century A.D. Pliny the Elder listed it among the settlements in the Troad which no longer existed in his day.GB115023. Bronze AE 10, SNG Arikantürk 692 ff.; SNG Munchen 295 f.; SNG Ashmolean 1175; SNG Cop 449; SNG Tübingen 2652; SNGvA 1557; SNG Tanrikulu 348; BMC Troas p. 73, 4, F, olive green patina, pitting, weight 1.238 g, maximum diameter 10.4 mm, Neandria (Çigri Dag, Turkey) mint, c. 4th Century B.C.; obverse laureate head of Apollo right; reverse barley grain in center, NEAN upward on left, bunch of grapes on right; from Shawn Caza, former diplomat, author of A Handbook of Late Roman Coins (Spink, 2021), collection assembled during postings and international travel; ex Dorotheum (Vienna, Austria); $38.00 (€35.72)
Kolophon, Ionia, c. 190 - 30 B.C.
Homer is a legendary ancient Greek epic poet, traditionally said to be the author of the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey.GB115027. Bronze AE 19, SNG Cop 186; SNGvA 2017; SNG Munchen 557; Milne Colophon 179; BMC Ionia p. 41, 43; Weber 5828, F, green patina, scratches, light earthen deposits, weight 4.390 g, maximum diameter 18.5 mm, die axis 0o, Kolophon (near Degirmendere Fev, Turkey) mint, magistrate Pytheos, c. 50 B.C.; obverse Homer seated left in himation, right hand raised to chin (the thinker pose!), scroll in his left hand resting on his knees, ΠYΘΕOΣ (magistrate) downward on left; reverse Apollo standing right, phiale in right hand, kithara (lyre) in left hand, KOΛOΦΩNIΩN downward on left; from Shawn Caza, former diplomat, author of A Handbook of Late Roman Coins (Spink, 2021), collection assembled during postings and international travel; ex Lukas Kalchhausser Münzhandel (Vienna, Austria); $60.00 (€56.40)
Erythrai, Ionia, c. 375 - 330 B.C.
| Erythrae or Erythrai, later Litri, was on a small peninsula in Ionia stretching into the Bay of Erythrae, at an equal distance from the mountains Mimas and Corycus, and directly opposite the island of Chios. It is recorded that excellent wine was produced in the peninsula. Erythrae was notable for being the seat of the Erythraean Sibyl. The ruins of the city are found north of the town Ildiri in the Çesme district of Izmir Province, Turkey. |  |
Myrina, Aeolis, c. 188 - 170 B.C., In the Name and Types of Alexander The Great
Temnos (Temnus) on the western coast of Anatolia near the Hermus River, was a small Greek city-state of Aeolis, later incorporated in the Roman province of Asia. Under Augustus it was already on the decline, under Tiberius it was destroyed by an earthquake, and in the time of Pliny (23 - 79 A.D.) it was no longer inhabited. It was, however, rebuilt later. One of the city's more noteworthy figures was the rhetorician Hermagoras.GS114605. Silver tetradrachm, Price 1662, Müller Alexander 935, SNG München -, SNG Alpha Bank -, SNG Saroglos -, SNG Cop -, VF, light tone, attractive style, light silvery encrustations, a few light marks/scratches, weight 16.654 g, maximum diameter 36.0 mm, die axis 0o, Aiolis, Myrina (near Aliaga, Turkey) mint, c. 188 - 170 B.C.; obverse head of Herakles right, wearing Nemean Lion skin, scalp over head, forepaws tied at neck; reverse Zeus Aëtophoros seated left on high-backed throne, bare to the waist, himation around hips and legs, eagle in extended right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand, right leg drawn back, AΛEΞANΔPOY downward on right, amphora in left field, palm branch left in exergue; huge 36 mm flan!, ex Aegean Numismatics; $400.00 (€376.00)
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