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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 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 Silver 1/32 siglos, Apparently unpublished, cf.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


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


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, Mindios (strategos for the 2nd time), 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 SALE PRICE $108.00


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 SALE PRICE $108.00


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 SALE PRICE $99.00


Macedonian Kingdom, Philip III Arrhidaeus and Alexander IV, 323 - 317 B.C.

|Macedonian| |Kingdom|, |Macedonian| |Kingdom,| |Philip| |III| |Arrhidaeus| |and| |Alexander| |IV,| |323| |-| |317| |B.C.||drachm|
This coin was struck shortly after the death of Alexander the Great in the name of his infant son, Alexander IV. Alexander IV and Philip III, Alexander's brother, were made joint kings after Alexander's death. Sardes struck coins in the names of both kings. Alexander IV was an infant and Philip was mentally disabled, neither king was capable of actual rule and both were selected only to serve as pawns. The regents held power. Philip III was actually imprisoned. In 317, Olympias had Philip murdered to ensure sole rule by her grandson Alexander IV. But Alexander IV would never rule. In 311 B.C., he and his mother Roxana were executed by the regent Kassander.
GS112776. Silver drachm, Price 2601; ADM I Sardes XIII, 191; Müller Alexander -, F, toned, marks, scratches, die wear, tiny edge chips, weight 3.937 g, maximum diameter 16.3 mm, die axis 0o, Lydia, Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint, struck under Menander, c. 323 - 322 B.C.; obverse head of Herakles right, wearing Nemean Lion skin, scalp over head, forepaws tied at neck; reverse Zeus Aëtophoros seated left on throne without back, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, right foot forward (Alexander the Great lifetime style), eagle in extended right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand, AΛΕΞANΔPOY downward on right, monogram left, torch in exergue; $110.00 SALE PRICE $99.00


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|
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 SALE PRICE $99.00


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|NEW
A number of markings in the reverse dies of sigloi of this same Carradice type and group are known. All are rare. This reverse die is published in the "The Dinar Hoard of Persian Sigloi" in Studies Price. Carradice does not recognize the "olive leaf" in his description.
GS114954. Silver siglos, Carradice Type| IV (middle) B; Carradice Price 264 (same dies), aVF, obv. flatly struck, die wear, weight 5.276 g, maximum diameter 16.9 mm, Sardes (Sart, Turkey) or subsidiary mint, c. 420 - 375 B.C.; obverse bearded Great King kneeling right, dagger drawn back in right, bow in left; reverse oblong incuse punch, "olive leaf"(?) inside incuse; extremely rare variant; $110.00 SALE PRICE $99.00


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

|Sardes|, |Sardes,| |Lydia,| |2nd| |-| |1st| |Century| |B.C.||AE| |16|
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).
GB111922. Bronze AE 16, GRPC Lydia 4 pl. 273, 9; BMC Lydia, p. 238, 19; SNG Cop -; SNGvA -, VF, broad flan, porosity, scratch, both sides beveled, weight 3.779 g, maximum diameter 15.6 mm, die axis 90o, Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint, 2nd - 1st century B.C.; obverse laureate head of Apollo right, long hair; reverse club, ΣAPΔI/ANΩN divided in two flanking lines, all within oak wreath, wreath closed with ΔM monogram above, all in a shallow round incuse; from the Michael Arslan Collection; $90.00 SALE PRICE $81.00


Sala, Lydia, c. 98 - 117 A.D.

|Other| |Lydia|, |Sala,| |Lydia,| |c.| |98| |-| |117| |A.D.||AE| |19|
The town of Sala is identifiable with Tepecik in today's west Asiatic Turkey, but in antiquity was in the Roman province of Lydia in Asia Minor.
RP113001. Bronze AE 19, RPC Online III 2438; BMC Lydia p. 228, 11; SNG Cop 422; SNG Leypold II 1178; Waddington 6435; Weber 6895; Lindgren I 797, VF, well centered, green patina, obv. flatly struck, light deposits, weight 5.132 g, maximum diameter 19.4 mm, die axis 30o, Lydia, Sala (Tepecik, Turkey) mint, c. 98 - 117 A.D.; obverse bust of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet and aegis; reverse CAΛHNΩN, Cybele seated left, kalathos on head, phiale in right hand, resting left arm on tympanum (drum), lion at feet on far side; $90.00 SALE PRICE $81.00




  






REFERENCES

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Head, B. Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum, Lydia. (London, 1901).
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