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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Anatolia| ▸ |Cappadocia||View Options:   | | | Cappadocia is in eastern Anatolia, in the center of what is now Turkey. After ending Persian rule, Alexander the Great intended to rule Cappadocia through one of his military commanders, but Ariarathes, a Persian aristocrat, somehow made himself king of the Cappadocians. Ariarathes I was successful and extended the borders of the Cappadocian Kingdom as far as the Black Sea. After Alexander's death, Perdiccas designated Eumenes to rule the area. Ariarathes was defeated, captured and crucified, but due to Macedonian infighting Ariarathes' son recovered his inheritance. He left the kingdom to a line of successors, who mostly bore the name of the founder of the dynasty. Under Ariarathes IV, Cappadocia became an ally of Rome. The kingdom maintained independence until A.D. 17, when the Tiberius reduced Cappadocia to a Roman province. |
Oliver Hoover, in Coins of the Seleucid Empire from the Collection of Arthur Houghton, attributes this type to the Cappadocian Kingdom, c. 130 - 80 B.C. The symbols were used on Cappadocian royal coinage, the coins are found in Cappadocian hoards and a tetradrachm naming the Cappadocian King Ariarathes VII Philometor (116 - 99 B.C.) bears the obverse portrait of Antiochus VII. He notes they may have been struck to pay foreign (Syrian?) mercenaries who preferred the types of Antiochus VII.SL113679. Silver tetradrachm, Houghton-Lorber II 2144.4, SNG Spaer 1862, Newell SMA 288, HGC 9 1068, NGC Ch XF, strike 4/5, surface 5/5 (3598726-018), weight 16.69 g, maximum diameter 28.5 mm, die axis 0o, obverse diademed head of the Seleukid King Antiochos VII right, fillet border; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EYEPΓETOY, Athena standing left, Nike in right, spear and shield in left, ligate ΔI / A left, small Δ inner right, Nike extends wreath into laurel wreath border; ex Stacks Bower auction (22-25 Aug 2023), lot 53174; NGC| Lookup;
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Caesarea, Cappadocia
Mount Erciyes (Argaios to the Greeks, Argaeus to the Romans) is a massive stratovolcano 25 km to the south of Kayseri (ancient Caesarea) in Turkey. The highest mountain in central Anatolia, with its summit reaching 3,916 meters (12,848 ft). It may have erupted as recently as 253 B.C. Strabo wrote that the summit was never free from snow and that those few who ascended it reported seeing both the Black Sea to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south in days with a clear sky.RP112993. Bronze AE 25, RPC Online VI T6850, Henseler 1276, Sydenham Caesarea 593, BMC Cappadocia 336, Lindgren I 1725, SNGvA 6522, SNG Cop -, aVF, nice portrait, uneven strike with some legend unstruck, weight 13.851 g, maximum diameter 25.3 mm, die axis 0o, Cappadocia, Caesarea (Kayseri, Turkey) mint, 228 - 229 A.D.; obverse AVK CEOV AΛEZANΔ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse MHTPOΠ KAICAPIA, agalma of Mount Argaeus, ET H (year 8) in exergue; first specimen of this type handled by FORVM; ex Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 24 (3 Dec 2022), lot 4995 (part of);
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Caesarea-Eusebia, Cappadocia
"Caesarea (Kayseri, Turkey - 38°42'N, 35°28'E) was created by the Cappodocian Kings to be their capital and was originally known as Mazaca. Caesarea fell to the Romans as a result of Pompey the Great's eastern campaigns, although client kings continued to rule until 17 AD when Tiberius annexed the area as the province of Cappodocia, with Caesarea as its capital. Through subsequent provincial reorganizations Caesarea finally became the capital of Cappodocia Prima in the late fourth century. It served as a mint city from Tiberius's reign until that of Septimius Severus, although not continuously." - from Moneta Historical Research by Tom SchroerRP112702. Bronze AE 23, Ganschow 823h; RPC VI Online 6823/32; Sydenham Caesarea 575; SNG Cop 296 var. (obv. leg.); SNGvA 6518 var. (same), F, dark patina, rev. slightly off center, weight 8.572 g, maximum diameter 22.3 mm, die axis 180o, Cappadocia, Caesarea-Eusebia (Kayseri, Turkey) mint, 226 - 227 A.D.; obverse AY K CEOYH - AΛEΞANΔ, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust to right, seen from behind; reverse inscription in five lines: MH/TPOΠO/ΛEWC K/AICAPI/AC ET ς (Metropolis Caesarea, year 6);
Hadrian, 11 August 117 - 10 July 138 A.D., Tyana, Cappadocia
Tyana was an ancient city in the Anatolian region of Cappadocia. Under Caracalla the city became Antoniana colonia Tyana. After having sided with Queen Zenobia of Palmyra it was captured by Aurelian in 272, who would not allow his soldiers to sack it, allegedly because Apollo appeared to him, pleading for its safety. The ruins of Tyana are at modern Kemerhisar, three miles south of Nigde. There are remains of a Roman aqueduct and of cave cemeteries and sepulchral grottoes.RP111720. Bronze AE 19, RPC III 2956; Henseler 1517; Waddington 6805; cf. Cox Tarsus p. 59, 234 & Pl. XI (year 21), gF, green patina, porous, scratches, light earthen deposits, tight flan, weight 5.839 g, maximum diameter 18.5 mm, die axis 0o, Tyana (Kemerhisar, Turkey) mint, 135 - 136 A.D.; obverse AYTO KAIC TPAI AΔPIANOC CEBACTOC, laureate head right; reverse TYANEΩN TΩN ΠP TA IEP ACY AYTO, Athena standing slightly left, head left, Victory bearing wreath and palm frond in right hand, left hand resting on grounded shield, vertical spear resting against shield, ET-K (year 20) across fields;
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Caesarea-Eusebia, Cappadocia
Kayseri, Turkey was originally named Mazaca. It was renamed Eusebia by Ariarathes V Eusebes, King of Cappadocia, 163 - 130 B.C. The last king of Cappadocia, King Archelaus, renamed it "Caesarea in Cappadocia" to honor Caesar Augustus upon his death in 14 A.D. Muslim Arabs slightly modified the name into Kaisariyah, which became Kayseri when the Seljuk Turks took control, c. 1080 A.D.RP111838. Bronze AE 21, Ganschow 823z; Hensler 1237; RPC VI Online 6823/46; Sydenham Caesarea 575 var. (obv. leg.); SNG Cop 296 var. (same); SNGvA 6518 var. (same), F, green patina, highlighting earthen deposits, porosity, minor flaw on rev. edge, weight 7.583 g, maximum diameter 21.1 mm, die axis 0o, Cappadocia, Caesaraea-Eusebia (Kayseri, Turkey) mint, 226 - 227 A.D.; obverse AY K CEOYHP - AΛEΞANΔ, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust to right, seen from behind; reverse inscription in five lines: MH/TPOΠO/ΛEWC K/AICAPI/AC ET ς (Metropolis Caesarea, year 6);
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Caesarea-Eusebia, Cappadocia
Kayseri, Turkey was originally named Mazaca. It was renamed Eusebia by Ariarathes V Eusebes, King of Cappadocia, 163 - 130 B.C. The last king of Cappadocia, King Archelaus, renamed it "Caesarea in Cappadocia" to honor Caesar Augustus upon his death in 14 A.D. Muslim Arabs slightly modified the name into Kaisariyah, which became Kayseri when the Seljuk Turks took control, c. 1080 A.D.RP111817. Bronze AE 23, Ganschow 823h; RPC VI Online 6823/32; Sydenham Caesarea 575; SNG Cop 296 var. (obv. leg.); SNGvA 6518 var. (same), F, well centered, dark green-brown patina, highlighting earthen deposits, weight 8.335 g, maximum diameter 22.5 mm, die axis 180o, Cappadocia, Caesaraea-Eusebia (Kayseri, Turkey) mint, 226 - 227 A.D.; obverse AY K CEOYH - AΛEΞANΔ, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust to right, seen from behind; reverse inscription in five lines: MH/TPOΠO/ΛEWC K/AICAPI/AC ET ς (Metropolis Caesarea, year 6);
Elagabalus, 16 May 218 - 11 March 222 A.D., Caesarea, Cappadocia
Kayseri, originally called Mazaka or Mazaca, is in central Turkey on a low spur on the north side of Mount Erciyes (Mount Argaeus in ancient times). During Achaemenid Persian rule, it was the capital of a Satrapy on the crossroads of the Royal Road from Sardis to Susa and the trade route from Sinope to the Euphrates. It was conquered by Alexander's general Perdikkas, was ruled by Eumenes of Cardia, then passed to the Seleucid empire after the battle of Ipsus. It became the capital of the independent Cappadocian Kingdom under Ariarathes III, around 250 B.C. During Strabo's time it was also known as Eusebia, after the Cappadocian King Ariarathes V Eusebes, 163 – 130 B.C. The name was changed again to "Caesarea in Cappadocia" in honor of Caesar Augustus, upon his death in 14 A.D. The city passed under formal Roman rule in 17 A.D. In Roman times, it prospered on the route from Ephesus to the East. Caesarea was destroyed by the Sassanid King Shapur I after his victory over the Emperor Valerian I in 260 A.D. At the time it was recorded to have around 400,000 inhabitants. Arabic influence changed Caesarea to the modern name Kayseri. The city gradually recovered and has a population of around 1 million people today. Few traces of the ancient city survive.RP111776. Bronze AE 26, cf. RPC Online VI T6722; Henseler 1090, VF, centered on a tight flan, high-points cleaned to contrasting bare metal, earthen deposits in fields, weight 11.979 g, maximum diameter 25.2 mm, die axis 0o, Cappadocia, Caesarea (Kayseri, Turkey) mint, 221 - 222 A.D.; obverse AY K M AYPHΛIOC - ANTWNEIN, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse MHTPOΠ - KAICAPI, agalma of Mount Argaeus placed on altar, ET E (year 5) on altar;
The Coinage of Caesarea in Cappadocia
Caesarea was one of the largest and most important Greek Imperial mints. A standard reference since it was first published in 1933. Alex G. Malloy added an extensive update, including 300 types not known to Sydenham. Covers 36 BC to AD 244.BK23936. The Coinage of Caesarea in Cappadocia by Edward A. Sydenham, with supplement by Alex G. Malloy, 1978, hard-back, age, marks, 8.6 x 5.7, 167 pages, illustrated, plus 2 plates, international shipping at actual cost of shipping;
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Caesarea, Cappadocia
Kayseri, Turkey was originally named Mazaca. It was renamed Eusebia by Ariarathes V Eusebes, King of Cappadocia, 163 - 130 B.C. The last king of Cappadocia, King Archelaus, renamed it "Caesarea in Cappadocia" to honor Caesar Augustus upon his death in 14 A.D. Muslim Arabs slightly modified the name into Kaisariyah, which became Kayseri when the Seljuk Turks took control, c. 1080 A.D.RP110435. Bronze AE 20, Henseler 838b, 1272 (same dies); RPC Online VI T6848.3, Sydenham Caesarea 590a; SNG Hunt 2278 var. (legends); BMC Galatia p. 91, 332 var. (same), aVF, off center, porosity/pitting, weight 6.233 g, maximum diameter 19.8 mm, die axis 180o, Cappadocia, Caesarea (Kayseri, Turkey) mint, 227 - 228 A.D.; obverse AY K CEOV - AΛEΞAN, laureate bare bust right, seen from behind; reverse MHT-P - K-AIC (Metropolis Caesarea), three stalks of grain tied together, ET - Z (year 7) divided across bottom; first ever specimen of year 7 of this type handled by FORVM;
Eusebeia (Caesarea), Cappadocian Kingdom, Reign of Archelaus, c. 36 B.C. - 17 A.D.
Mount Erciyes (Argaios to the Greeks, Argaeus to the Romans) is a massive stratovolcano 25 km to the south of Kayseri (ancient Caesarea) in Turkey. The highest mountain in central Anatolia, with its summit reaching 3,916 meters (12,848 ft). It may have erupted as recently as 253 B.C., as may be depicted on Roman era coins. Strabo wrote that the summit was never free from snow and that those few who ascended it reported seeing both the Black Sea to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south in days with a clear sky.GB110053. Bronze AE 16, Sydenham Caesarea 5; BMC Galatia p. 45, 1; ; Lindgren III 945; SNGvA -; SNG Cop VII -; Imhoof MG -, F, green patina, earthen deposits, weight 3.729 g, maximum diameter 15.7 mm, die axis 0o, Cappadocia, Caesarea (Kayseri, Turkey) mint, c. 36 B.C. - 17 A.D.; obverse facing head of Medusa (gorgoneion) in aegis; reverse Mount Argaeus, EYΣEBEIAΣ in exergue ;
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