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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Anatolia| ▸ |Ionia| ▸ |Ephesos||View Options:  |  |  |   
Ancient Coins of Ephesos, Ionia

Ephesos, on the west coast of Anatolia, was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League. It was famous for its Temple of Artemis, completed around 550 B.C., one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The cult image of the Ephesian goddess has a mummy-like body with the feet placed close together, is many-breasted, and from each of her hands hangs a long fillet with tassels at the ends. At her side stands a stag raising its head to the image of the goddess. The usual symbols of this nature-goddess are the torch, stag, and the bee. Coins of Ephesos most frequently depict a bee on the obverse. The high-priest of the temple of Artemis was called the King Bee, while the virgin priestesses were called honey-bees (Melissae). Ephesus was one of the seven churches of Asia cited in the Book of Revelation and the Gospel of John may have been written there. The image on the right is the beautiful facade of the Celsus library at Ephesos. It was the third largest library in the Roman Empire. The interior of the library and its contents were destroyed in a fire that resulted either from an earthquake or a Gothic invasion in 262 C.E., and the facade by an earthquake in the tenth or eleventh century. It lay in ruins for centuries until the façade was re-erected by archaeologists between 1970 and 1978. Click it to see a larger image.Celsus library

Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Ephesos, Ionia

|Ephesos|, |Severus| |Alexander,| |13| |March| |222| |-| |March| |235| |A.D.,| |Ephesos,| |Ionia||AE| |36|
See this type online:
RPC Online VI
Asia Minor Coins
ANS Mantis (No photo on ANS, but photo of this specimen is available on RPC Online.)SH87621. Bronze AE 36, Karwiese MvE 5.2 p. 164, 750b (O3/R3, only 1 spec. of this variety); RPC Online VI T4956 (5 spec.); ANS Mantis 1972.185.5, Choice EF, excellent centering, olive green patina, some legend weak, small flaw/punch on reverse, porous, weight 25.344 g, maximum diameter 36.3 mm, die axis 180o, Ephesos (near Selcuk, Turkey) mint, 13 Mar 222 - Mar 235 A.D.; obverse AYT K M AYP CEB AΛEΞANΔPOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse M-ONΩN - ΠPΩTΩN - ACIAC, on left: cult statue of Artemis standing facing, wearing ornate kalathos, flanked on each side by a stag, arms with supports; on right: Demeter enthroned left, wreathed in grain, two stalks of grain in right hand, long torch vertical in left hand; EΦECIΩN in exergue; only the second known of this variety with stags flanking Artemis, fantastic HUGE 36mm provincial bronze!; SOLD


Ephesos, Ionia, c. 600 - 550 B.C.

|Archaic| |Electrum|, |Ephesos,| |Ionia,| |c.| |600| |-| |550| |B.C.||Trite| |(1/3| |Stater)|
This rare type is among the earliest of coins.SL99234. Electrum Trite (1/3 Stater), Karwiese Series II.1, type 1; Rosen 257; SNGvA 1768, NGC F, strike 4/5, surface 4/5 (4935002-006), weight 4.65 g, maximum diameter 11.7 mm, die axis 0o, Ephesos (near Selcuk, Turkey) mint, c. 600 - 550 B.C.; obverse primitive bee; reverse two incuse punches of various sizes; NGC| Lookup; ex Heritage auction 231947 (21 Nov, 2019), lot 63061; rare; SOLD


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.SH54006. Silver cistophorus, RPC Online I 2221, RIC I 120 (Pergamon), RSC II 3, BMCRE I 228, SRCV I 1838, Nice VF, toned, banker's mark, weight 10.700 g, maximum diameter 27.2 mm, die axis 180o, probably Ephesos (near Selcuk, 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; very rare (R3); SOLD


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

|Ephesos|, |Ephesos,| |Ionia| |(or| |perhaps| |Bargylia,| |Caria),| |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. The NGC holder notes 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.SL97747. Silver trihemiobol, cf. SNG Davis 270, SNG Cop -, SNG Kayhan -, SNGvA -, BMC Galatia -, NGC Ch AU, strike 5/5, surface 3/5, brushed (6555578-004), weight 1.41 g, maximum diameter 11.4 mm, die axis 0o, Ephesos (near Selcuk, 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; NGC| Lookup; extremely rare; SOLD


Ephesos, Ionia, c. 600 - 550 B.C.

|Archaic| |Electrum|, |Ephesos,| |Ionia,| |c.| |600| |-| |550| |B.C.||Hekte| |(1/6| |Stater)|
This type is among the earliest of coins. This very rare hekte was struck with the same dies used for a larger denomination (trite; Karwiese Series II.1, Type 2, 8; Rosen 257), leaving the "bee" largely off flan and obscure.SL99235. Electrum Hekte (1/6 Stater), Karwiese Series II.1, type 2, 3; cf. Rosen 257 (trite, 1/3 stater); SNGvA 1768 (trite, 1/3 stater); SNG Kayhan -, NGC F, strike 3/5, surface 4/5 (4935002-085), weight 2.34 g, maximum diameter 9.2 mm, die axis 0o, Ephesos (near Selcuk, Turkey) mint, c. 600 - 550 B.C.; obverse primitive bee; reverse two incuse punches of various sizes; NGC| Lookup; ex Heritage auction 231948 (21 Nov, 2019), lot 64050; very rare; SOLD


Marc Antony, Octavian and Lepidus, Triumvirs, 26 November 43 - 36 B.C.

|Marc| |Antony|, |Marc| |Antony,| |Octavian| |and| |Lepidus,| |Triumvirs,| |26| |November| |43| |-| |36| |B.C.||AE| |17|
RPC notes uncertainty regarding the reverse legend of this type. Apparently, none are fully and clearly legible. There is some question regarding the final Z. They note it may be Ξ. On our example however, it seems clearly to be Z.

The Second Triumvirate officially expired after two five-year terms in 33 B.C., but Octavian unilaterally expelled Lepidus in 36 B.C. While this effectively ended the three-man Triumvirate, Octavian and Mark Antony continued to serve as "triumvirs" despite their number.SH60337. Bronze AE 17, RPC I 2573, BMCRR 194 corr., VF, nice for the type, weight 3.400 g, maximum diameter 16.6 mm, die axis 0o, Ephesos (near Selcuk, Turkey) mint, 39 B.C.; obverse three jugate heads of the Triumvirs right; reverse APXIEPEYΣ ΓPAM ΓΛAYKΩN EΦE MAZAΣ, facing cult statue of Artemis with supports; attractive green patina, ex CNG; rare; SOLD


Ephesos, Ionia, Phanes, c. 625 - 600 B.C.

|Ephesos|, |Ephesos,| |Ionia,| |Phanes,| |c.| |625| |-| |600| |B.C.||1/48| |stater|
Known to be among the oldest coins because a hemihekte from the issue was found in the foundation of the temple of Artemis at Ephesos. Seven different denominations are linked by the stag type, a common weight standard, and reverse die links. The stag is a symbol of Artemis and thus of Ephesus. The two larger denominations bear the name Phanes, who was likely a prominent citizen of Ephesus, perhaps a despot, a magistrate, or a wealthy money-lender.GA59457. Electrum 1/48 stater, SNGvA 778, Zhuyuetang 10, SNG Cop -; Weidauer -, Rosen -, VF, weight 0.211 g, maximum diameter 5.0 mm, Ephesos (near Selcuk, Turkey) mint, obverse head of stag right; reverse irregular pattern within square incuse; probably less than 20 known to exist; very rare; SOLD


Ephesos, Ionia, Phanes, c. 625 - 600 B.C., Ancient Counterfeit Electrum Plate Over Silver

|Ephesos|, |Ephesos,| |Ionia,| |Phanes,| |c.| |625| |-| |600| |B.C.,| |Ancient| |Counterfeit| |Electrum| |Plate| |Over| |Silver||Hekte| |(1/6| |Stater)|
The official coin, of which this is an ancient counterfeit, is known to be among the oldest coins because a hemihekte from the issue was in the famous "Artemision Find" excavated from the foundation of the temple of Artemis at Ephesos. Seven different denominations are linked by the stag type, a common weight standard, and reverse die links. The stag is a symbol of Artemis and thus of Ephesus. The two larger denominations bear the name Phanes, who was likely a prominent citizen of Ephesus, perhaps a despot, a magistrate, or a wealthy money-lender. This coin is undoubtedly one of the very first counterfeit coins. Criminal counterfeiters were evidently a problem from the very beginnings of coinage.SH21112. Fouree electrum plated Hekte (1/6 Stater), cf. Weidauer 35; Traité pl. II, 18; BMC Ionia 4 (official, Ephesos, electrum), VF, electrum over silver, weight 1.645 g, maximum diameter 9.6 mm, unofficial counterfeiter's mint, after c. 625 B.C.; obverse forepart of stag left, head turned right, three pellets before; reverse incuse square with raised lines; SOLD


Augustus, 16 January 27 B.C. - 19 August 14 A.D.

|Ephesos|, |Augustus,| |16| |January| |27| |B.C.| |-| |19| |August| |14| |A.D.||cistophoric| |tetradrachm|
The cistophorus was first struck by the Pergamene Kingdom was a tetradrachm (four-drachms coin) struck on a reduced Asian standard of about 3 grams per drachm. Its name was derived from the cista, a Dionysian cult snake basket that frequently appeared on the obverse. After the Pergamene Kingdom was bequeathed to Rome in 133 B.C., the Romans continued to strike cistophori for the Asia province, with a value equal to three denarii. The portrait of Augustus and later emperors replaced the cista on the obverse.SH85434. Silver cistophoric tetradrachm, Sutherland Group VI, RPC I 2215, RIC I 479, RSC I 33, BnF I 922, BMCRE I 694, BMCRR East 262, SRCV I 1587, VF, full circles strike on a broad flan, light uneven toning, light encrustations, small closed edge crack, weight 11.660 g, maximum diameter 27.2 mm, die axis 0o, Ephesos (near Selcuk, Turkey) mint, c. 24 - 20 B.C.; obverse IMP CAE-SAR (counterclockwise below), bare head right, linear border; reverse garlanded and filleted altar of Diana (artemis, ornamented on the front with two hinds standing confronted, AVGVSTVS above; SOLD


Kingdom of Thrace, Lysimachos, 305 - 281 B.C., Portrait of Alexander the Great

|Kingdom| |of| |Thrace|, |Kingdom| |of| |Thrace,| |Lysimachos,| |305| |-| |281| |B.C.,| |Portrait| |of| |Alexander| |the| |Great||tetradrachm|
This coin was previously attributed as Thompson 166, but that type has a bee under Athena's arm and a similar, but not identical, monogram in the exergue. We were unable to find another example of this type.GS77555. Silver tetradrachm, Apparently unpublished; Müller -, Thompson -, SNG Cop -, SNG Tüb -, Armenak Hoard -, VF, high-relief unusual style portrait, toned, tiny flan crack, light marks, weight 14.309 g, maximum diameter 28.7 mm, die axis 180o, perhaps Ephesos (near Selcuk, Turkey) mint, c. 294 - 281 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Alexander the Great wearing the horn of Ammon; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ (king) ΛYΣIMAXOY (Lysimachos), Athena enthroned left resting arm on shield, transverse spear resting against right side, Athena holds Nike crowning name with wreath, ΣΠΕ(?) monogram under her hand; ex Roma Numismatics e-auction 5 (23 Feb 2014), lot 353; extremely rare; SOLD



  




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REFERENCES

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