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

Ancient Coins of Anatolia (Asia Minor)

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.!

Claudius, 25 January 41 - 13 October 54 A.D., Ephesos, Ionia

|Claudius|, |Claudius,| |25| |January| |41| |-| |13| |October| |54| |A.D.,| |Ephesos,| |Ionia||cistophorus|
In 30/29 B.C., the Koinon of Asia and Bithynia requested permission to honor the Augustus as a living god. "Republican" Rome despised the worship of a living man, but an outright refusal might offend their loyal allies. A cautious formula was drawn up, non-Romans could establish cults and build temples for divus Augustus jointly with dea Roma. Communitas Asiae (Community of Asia) was pro-consular Roman province comprised of Lydia, Iconia, Caria, Mysia, Phrygia, and Hellespontus.
SL113456. Silver cistophorus, RPC Online I 2221, RIC I 120 (R3, Pergamon), RSC II 3, BMCRE I 228, SRCV I 1838, NGC F, strike 5/5, surface 3/5 (2400265-002), weight 10.53 g, maximum diameter 26 mm, die axis 180o, probably Ephesos (near Selçuk, Turkey) mint, 41 - 42 A.D.; obverse TI CLAVD CAES AVG, bare head left; reverse Temple of Roma and Augustus, two columns, podium with four steps, within temple Augustus and Roma stand facing, Augustus in military garb with spear in right hand and shield in left, Fortuna crowns him with wreath in right hand and holds cornucopia in left hand, ROM ET AVG (Roma and Augustus) on entablature, COM - ASI (Communitas Asiae) across field at center; from a Virginia Collector, ex Eastern Numismatics Inc. (Garden City, NY, 17 Jan 2013, $1695); NGC| Lookup; very rare; $1700.00 SALE PRICE $1530.00


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 SALE PRICE $522.00


Aspendos, Pamphylia, c. 465 - 430 B.C.

|Aspendos|, |Aspendos,| |Pamphylia,| |c.| |465| |-| |430| |B.C.||stater|NEW
In 467 B.C. the Athenian statesman and military commander Cimon, and his fleet of 200 ships, destroyed the Persian navy based at the mouth of the river Eurymedon in a surprise attack. In order to crush to Persian land forces, he tricked the Persians by sending his best fighters ashore wearing the garments of the hostages he had seized earlier. When they saw these men, the Persians thought that they were compatriots freed by the enemy and arranged festivities in celebration. Taking advantage of this, Cimon landed and annihilated the Persians. Aspendos then became a member of the Attic-Delos Maritime league.

Roma Numismatics speculated that the undertype of the present coin was the uncertain Cypriot stater of the ram with ankh symbol/laurel branch type. A tantalizing suggestion, but a likelier candidate for the host stater is an issue of neighboring Side with a pomegranate on the obverse and the head of Athena within an incuse square on the reverse. On the warrior side of our Aspendus coin, we see hints of the fruit, including its prominent stem flanked by two leaves. There are also suggestions of Athena’s neck on the reverse.
GS114035. Silver stater, SNG Fitzwilliam 5052 (same rev. die); SNG BnF 2 var. (no tortoise; same rev. die); cf. SNGvA 4484 (EΣ only; rev. tortoise; lion btw triskeles), aVF, oval flan struck with worn dies, clean bright surfaces, overstruck with traces of undertype visible on both sides, weight 10.896 g, maximum diameter 24.6 mm, die axis 180o, Aspendos (Serik, Turkey) mint, c. 465 - 430 B.C.; obverse warrior advancing right, wearing crested helmet, nude, couched spear in right hand, round shield on left arm, tortoise between legs; reverse triskeles of human legs clockwise, EΣT high across field, crouching lion lower left behind triskeles, all within an incuse square; interesting overstrike; ex Roma Numismatics e-sale 112 (7 Sep 2023), lot 408; $350.00 SALE PRICE $315.00


Persian Empire, Lydia, Anatolia, Darius I, c. 521 - 486 B.C.

|Persian| |Lydia|, |Persian| |Empire,| |Lydia,| |Anatolia,| |Darius| |I,| |c.| |521| |-| |486| |B.C.||1/32| |siglos|NEW
The 1/24 siglos version of our coin (probably a 1/32 siglos) is the first coin type listed in Axel Winzer's 2005 numismatic work, Antike portraitmünzen der Perser und Greichen aus vor-hellenistischer Zeit (Zeitraum ca. 510-322 v.Chr.). And this is no coincidence as he explains in part, on page 11: "Together with the portrait coins of Darius I (1.1 and 1.2), these two numismatic rarities, minted by Cyrus the Younger (2.1 and 5.1), represent the beginning of the earliest portraits of living people on ancient coins described here." Stylistically, the closest match discovered for the present coin is the gold 1/48 daric (Winzer 1.2) in the Berlin Museum, represented by a drawing in Traité. Babelon makes no mention of the presence of a quiver on that piece, which may also be the case here.

An extraordinarily tiny coin. In later generations, the change-making role of very small silver coins would be replaced by bronze ones.
GA113543. Silver 1/32 siglos, Apparently unpublished, cf. Klein 759 (1/24 siglos), Winzer 1.1 (same), Traité II p. 47, 6 = Winzer 1.2 (1/48 daric), Carradice -, aVF, etched surfaces with traces of earthen sediments in rev. crevices, good centering and detail for such a small coin, weight 0.160 g, maximum diameter 5.1 mm, Sardis (Sart, Turkey) mint, c. 510 B.C.; obverse head of the Great King right, wearing a kidaris (Persian royal crown), quiver(?) behind; reverse semi-square incuse punch; extremely rare denomination of a historically important coin type!; $300.00 SALE PRICE $270.00


Ephesos, Ionia (or perhaps Bargylia, Caria or Amyntas, King of Galatia), c. 2nd - 1st Century B.C.

|Ephesos|, |Ephesos,| |Ionia| |(or| |perhaps| |Bargylia,| |Caria| |or| |Amyntas,| |King| |of| |Galatia),| |c.| |2nd| |-| |1st| |Century| |B.C.||trihemiobol|
The type is most often attributed to Ephesos, but the style and denomination/weight do not strongly support any link to that city. NGC tags for the type note the origin may be Bargylia, Caria. The style certainly fits Bargylia better than Ephesos. The consignor of this coin, a professional numismatist, believes it was struck under Amyntas, King of Galatia, 37 - 25 B.C. Amyntas also issued Artemis and stag types.
GS98643. Silver trihemiobol, cf. SNG Davis 270, SNG Cop -, SNG Kayhan -, SNGvA -, BMC Galatia -, aVF, toned, light marks and scratches, weight 1.337 g, maximum diameter 12.3 mm, die axis 0o, Ephesos (near Selçuk, Turkey) mint, c. 2nd - 1st Century B.C.; obverse draped bust of Artemis right, quiver at shoulder; reverse forepart of stag right, head turned back left; extremely rare; $280.00 SALE PRICE $252.00


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 SALE PRICE $225.00


Mytilene, Lesbos, 521 - 478 B.C., Ancient Counterfeit

|Lesbos|, |Mytilene,| |Lesbos,| |521| |-| |478| |B.C.,| |Ancient| |Counterfeit||hekte|
Counterfeiting began almost immediately after the first coinage was introduced. The official Mytilene coin was solid electrum, a mixture of gold and silver. This coin is plated with electrum over a base core, struck by a criminal counterfeiter in ancient times, intended for circulation as the official prototype. The low weight identifies this as is a plated coin.
GA114610. Fouree electrum plated hekte, cf. Bodenstedt 9.1, HGC 6 933 (official Mytilene mint prototype, solid electrum), VF, rough spots, weight 2.086 g, maximum diameter 10.3 mm, die axis 180o, unofficial criminal mint, 521 - 478 B.C.; obverse forepart of winged lion left; reverse incuse head of cock left, rectangular punch to right; $250.00 SALE PRICE $225.00


Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Antiocheia, Pisidia

|Pisidia|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.,| |Antiocheia,| |Pisidia||AE| |33|
Antiochia in Pisidia, also know as Antiochia in Phrygia, and under the Roman Empire as Antiochia Caesareia or Antiochia Colonia Caesarea, was on the border of Pisidia and Phrygia, at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Central Anatolian regions. After the death of Alexander the Great, Seleucus I Nicator, founder of the Seleucid Dynasty, took control of Pisidia. Captured places were Hellenized and, in order to protect the population, nearly 60 fortified cities were founded at strategically important places, usually on an acropolis. Seleucus gave 16 of them the name of his father Antiochos. Colonists were brought from Magnesia on the Maeander to found Antiochia in Pisidia.Antioch
ME113244. Bronze AE 33, Krzyzanowska XI/58; RPC Online VII.2 2730; BMC Pisidia p. 194; 104; SNGvA 4952; SNG BnF 1199; SNG Hunter 2130; McClean 8945; SNG Pfalz 84, Choice VF, well centered, small central dimples, light deposits, light marks, weight 25.898 g, maximum diameter 33.3 mm, die axis 180o, Antioch in Pisidia (Yalvac, Turkey) mint, 29 Jul 238 - 25 Feb 244 A.D.; obverse IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AV-G (Imperator Caesar Marcus Antonius Gordianus Augustus), laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse CAES ANTIOCH COL (Caesarea Antiochia Colonia), she-wolf standing right under fig-tree suckling the twins, Romulus and Remus, S R in exergue; $200.00 SALE PRICE $180.00


Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Koinon of Galatia, Galatia

|Galatia|, |Nero,| |13| |October| |54| |-| |9| |June| |68| |A.D.,| |Koinon| |of| |Galatia,| |Galatia||AE| |20|
In 25 B.C., Augustus raised Ankara to the status of a polis and made it the capital city of the Roman province of Galatia. Ankara is famous for the Monumentum Ancyranum (Temple of Augustus and Rome) which contains the official record of the Acts of Augustus, known as the Res Gestae Divi Augusti, an inscription cut in marble on the walls of this temple. An estimated 200,000 people lived in Ancyra in good times during the Roman Empire, a far greater number than was to be the case from after the fall of the Roman Empire until the early 20th century.

Numismatic scholars have long speculated which city in Galatia was the minter of the Koinon of Galatia issues, with reasons to suggest Ancyra, Pessinus, and Tavium. In May 2023, a member of the FORVM Ancient Coins Discussion Board asked for help in identifying a Roman provincial of Galba with a temple reverse that he believed was a product of Tavium. Quite surprisingly, its actual origin was Ancyra and its strong resemblance to RPC I 3566, a Koinon of Galatia issue struck under Galba, was unmistakable. The Ancyra coin, still unpublished on RPC Online and the earliest attested Roman provincial issue of the city, also bore an owl countermark (Howgego 468). This mark was previously known only from the Koinon of Galatia coinages of Nero and Galba, thus adding even more evidence in favor of Ancyra as the Koinon minter/issuer.
RP114405. Bronze AE 20, RPC Online 3563A (6 spec., otherwise apparently unpublished) , VF, green patina, smooth surfaces except for the occasional tiny pit, a handsome specimen, weight 4.577 g, maximum diameter 20.3 mm, die axis 0o, Ancyra (Ankara, Turkey) mint, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D.; obverse NEPΩNOΣ ΣEBAΣTOY, laureate head right; reverse ΣEBAΣTH, Nike striding left, wreath in extended right hand, palm frond in left hand; very rare; $200.00 SALE PRICE $180.00


Julia Mamaea, Augusta, 222 – 235 A.D., Nicomedia, Bithynia

|Bithynia|, |Julia| |Mamaea,| |Augusta,| |222| |–| |235| |A.D.,| |Nicomedia,| |Bithynia||assarion|
The referenced coin, RPC Online VI T3432 = Rec Gén 334, is the only known specimen of this type and RPC notes, "Tooled, likely not belonging to Nicomedia." The present coin confirms attribution to Nicomedia. Furthermore, this type for Julia Mamaea nicely complements the Severus Alexander issue with the same reverse (RPC Online VI T3435).
RP113006. Bronze assarion, RPC Online VI T3432 corr. (legends), Rec Gén 334 corr. (same), F, green patina, weight 3.540 g, maximum diameter 18.4 mm, die axis 210o, Nicomedia (Izmit, Turkey) mint, group 1b, 222 – 235 A.D.; obverse IOVΛIA MΑMAIA CEBAC, draped bust right; reverse NIKOMHΔEΩN ΔIC NEΩKOPΩN, veiled and draped bust of Demeter right, wearing stephane, stalks of grain before her; 2nd known and the best of the type known to FORVM; extremely rare!; $180.00 SALE PRICE $162.00




  







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