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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Anatolia| ▸ |Phrygia||View Options:   | | | Phrygia lies in western central Anatolia (Asia Minor) between Bithynia, Mysia, Lydia, Pisidia, and Galatia. The cities were found in the valleys and high plains between the many high mountains of the land. The native Phrygians, whose inscriptions have not yet been deciphered, fell under Lydian, then Persian, then Macedonian rule. Greek and Macedonian settlers were planted in Phrygia by the Seleucids and Attalids in a mutual rivalry, but northern Phrygia was overrun by Celts (eventually it would become Galatia). After the defeat of Antiochus at Magnesia, Phrygia was assigned to the kingdom of Pergamum in 188 B.C., after which it became intensely Hellenized and first struck coins. Rome took control, along with the rest of the Pergamene kingdom, in 133 B.C. |
Asklepios is the Greek god of medicine. Hygieia is the goddess of health and Askelpois' daughter. Telesphoros is Asklepios' assistant. Asclepius learned the secrets of keeping death at bay after observing one snake bringing another snake healing herbs. Woman seeking fertility, the sick, and the injured slept in his temples in chambers where non-poisonous snakes were left to crawl on the floor and provide healing.RP91190. Bronze tetrassarion, SNG Munchen 333; SNGvA 3791; SNG Hunterian 2048; BMC Phrygia p. 177, 95 var. (exergue in two lines...Ω/N); SNG Cop -; SNG Righetti -, Choice VF, well centered, dark patina, highest points flatly struck, small edge split, central depressions, weight 6.308 g, maximum diameter 25.2 mm, die axis 180o, Cotiaeum (Kutahya, Turkey) mint, Oct 253 - c. Jun 260 A.D.; obverse AYT K Π ΛIK OYAΛEPIANON, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse EΠI Π AI ∆HMHTPIANOY IΠΠ (P. Ailios Demetrios, archon and hipparchos), Hygieia, on left, standing right, feeding serpent in right hand from patera in left hand; Asklepios, on right, standing facing, head left, leaning with right hand on serpent-entwined staff; Telesphoros between them, standing facing, ΛP/X in two lines above center, KOTIAEΩN in exergue;
Cotiaeum, Phrygia, c. 235 - 238 A.D.
This type is apparently unpublished and perhaps unique. Hermaphilos struck at Cotiaeum as first archon for the second time under Maximinus (see BMC Phrygia p. 172).
RP94282. Bronze AE 21, Apparently unpublished, RPC Online -, ISEGRIM -, BMC Phrygia -, SNG Cop -, SNGvA -, VF, great portrait, dark brown tone, central depressions, weight 4.396 g, maximum diameter 20.6 mm, die axis 0o, Cotiaeum (Kütahya, Turkey) mint, c. 235 - 238 A.D.; obverse ∆HMOC (Demos), bearded bust of Demos right, slight drapery; reverse EΠI EPMAΦIΛOY APX B (under authority of Hermaphilos archon for the second time), Cybele enthroned left, kalathos on head, phiale in extended right hand, left arm resting on tympanum, lions flanking throne, KOTIAEΩ/N in two lines in exergue; the only specimen of the type known to Forum, ex Numismatik Naumann auction 81 (1 Sept 2019), lot 314; Laodicea ad Lycus, Phrygia, c. 1st Century B.C.
The boar and the wolf are symbolic of the rivers Kapros and Lykos respectively.GB88939. Bronze AE 15, BMC Phrygia p. 287, 52; Weber 7129; SNG Cop -; SNGvA -, VF, dark patina, obverse a little off center, porous, weight 3.031 g, maximum diameter 14.6 mm, die axis 30o, Laodicea ad Lycus (near Denizli, Turkey) mint, c. 1st century B.C.; obverse wild bristle-backed boar (river Kapros) standing left,
(control monogram) below belly; reverse wolf (river Lykos) standing right, ΛAO∆I/KEΩN in two lines above and in exergue; very rare; Augustus, 16 January 27 B.C. - 19 August 14 A.D., Kibyra, Phrygia
Kibyra (Cibyra) near the modern town of Gölhisar in south-west Turkey, was possibly originally settled by Lydians. The city was in the far south of Phrygia adjoining Lycia. It is uncertain whether the city was part of the Province of Asia or of Lycia in the early imperial period. According to Strabo, the Lydian language was still being spoken by a multicultural population in the 1st century B.C. Thus Kibyra was the last place where the Lydian culture, by then extinct in Lydia proper, persevered.RP89888. Bronze AE 17, RPC I 2882 (5 spec. online); SNG Fitzwilliam 4954 (same dies); SNGvA 3727; Imhoof GM p. 397, 88; Waddington 5819; SNG Cop -; BMC Phrygia -, aVF, green patina, most of ethnic off flan, small edge splits, weight 4.425 g, maximum diameter 17.2 mm, die axis 270o, Kibyra (near Golhisar, Turkey) mint, obverse bare head right; reverse capricorn right, head turned back left, CEBATOC above, KIBYPATWN counterclockwise below and upward on right; rare;
Synnada, Phrygia, 249 - 251 A.D.
Synnada (Suhut, Turkey today) was of considerable importance as a station on the road from Apameia to the north and east. Synnada was celebrated throughout the Roman Empire for its precious Synnadic marble, a light color marble interspersed with purple spots and veins. From quarries on Mount Persis in neighboring Docimeium, it was conveyed through Synnada to Ephesus, from which it was shipped over sea to Italy.RP92750. Bronze AE 24, RPC IX 887 (2 spec.), SNG Tüb 4199, BMC Phrygia p. 397, 29 var. (palm fronds flank shield); SNGvA 8447 var. (same); SNG Cop 717 var. (same), VF, green patina, light earthen deposits, weight 6.418 g, maximum diameter 24.3 mm, die axis 180o, Synnada (Suhut, Turkey) mint, time of Trajanus Decius, 249 - 251 A.D.; obverse CYNNA∆EΩN, bare head of Hercules right; reverse ∆ΩPIEΩNIΩNΩN, distyle temple, containing ornamented shield, star in arched pediment; ex Tom Vossen; rare;
Claudius, 25 January 41 - 13 October 54 A.D., Aizanis, Phrygia
Aizanis (Aezani, Aizanoi) was an important political and economic center in Roman times. Surviving remains from the period include a well-preserved Temple of Zeus, an unusual combined theater-stadium complex, and a macellum inscribed with the Price Edict of Diocletian.RP84892. Bronze AE 20, RPC I 3088; BMC Phrygia p. 34, 85; SNG Cop 83; vA Aizanoi 40; McClean 8744; Lindgren-Kovacs 872, VF, dark patina with buff earthen deposits, tight flan, reverse slightly off center, weight 4.082 g, maximum diameter 19.5 mm, die axis 0o, Aizanis (Cavdarhisar, Turkey) mint, magistrate Klaudios Hierax; obverse AIZANITAI − KΛAY∆ION KAICKAPA, laureate head right; reverse EΠI KΛAY∆I-OY - IEPAKOC, Zeus of Aezanis standing facing, head left, eagle in extended right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand; ex Roma Numismatics e-sale 28 (2 Jul 2016), lot 252;
Eumeneia, Phrygia, c. 165 - 133 B.C.
Eumenia, Phrygia was founded by Attalus II Philadelphus (159 - 138 B.C.) at the source of the Cludrus, near the Glaucus, and named after his brother Eumenes. Numerous inscriptions and many coins remain to show that Eumenia was an important and prosperous city under Roman rule. As early as the third century its population was in great part Christian, and it seems to have suffered much during the persecution of Diocletian. The remains of Eumenia are located in Denizli Province, Turkey on the shore of Lake Isikli near Civril.GB84981. Bronze AE 16, SNG Cop 377; BMC Phrygia p. 211, 1 ff.; SGCV II 5138; SNGvA -, VF, attractive patina, well centered, weight 4.169 g, maximum diameter 16.1 mm, die axis 0o, Eumeneia (near Civril, Turkey) mint, c. 165 - 133 B.C.; obverse head of Zeus right wreathed with oak; reverse EYME/NEΩN in two lines within oak wreath;
Eumeneia, Phrygia, 133 - 30 B.C.
"Philokhoros [Greek historian, c. 3rd century B.C.] says that drinkers not only reveal what they are, but also disclose the secrets of everybody else in their outspokenness. Hence the saying, ‘wine is truth also,’ and ‘wine revealeth the heart of man.’ Hence also the tripod as prize of victory in the Dionysia (Festival of Dionysos). For of those who speak the truth we say that they ‘speak from the tripod,’ and it must be understood that the mixing-bowl is Dionysos' tripod...In these they used to mix their wine, and this is ‘the veritable tripod truth.’ Wherefore the tripod is proper to Apollon because of its prophetic truth, while to Dionysos it is proper because of the truth of wine." -- Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 2. 37f -38aGB92007. Bronze AE 21, BMC Phrygia p. 212, 13; cf. SNG Cop 382 (magistrate); SNG Munchen 203 (same); SNGvA 3583 (same); SNG Tübingen -, gF, centered on a tight flan, dark patina with highlighting buff earthen deposits, bumps and scratches, weight 7.485 g, maximum diameter 20.9 mm, die axis 0o, Eumeneia (near Civril, Turkey) mint, magistrate Dionysios Philonidos, 133 - 30 B.C.; obverse head of young Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy; reverse tripod lebes with three handles, star above center, star above snake-entwined labrys left, star above filleted laurel-branch right, EYMENEΩN downward on right, ∆IONYΣIOY / ΦIΛΩNI∆ (magistrate's name) downward in two lines on left; very rare magistrate;
Valerian I, October 253 - c. June 260 A.D., Hierapolis, Phrygia in Homonoia with Sardis
This coin commemorates the homonoia (alliance) between Phrygia and Sardis. Cities in Thrace and Asia minor sometimes formed alliances with other cities. The competition for prestige and rivalry between cities in the East was intense. Alliances could enhance a city’s status by aligning either with many cities or with particularly important ones. Homonoia was part of civic "foreign policy" and might have involved the exchange of delegates and joint celebrations and sacrifices. At least 87 cities issued homonoia coins celebrating their alliances.RP77255. Bronze AE 30, cf. Franke-Nolle, type VI, 848 ff. var. (Vs.C/Rs.-, unlisted reverse die); SNGvA 3668; SNG Tübingen 4054; Lindgren III 596, aF, obverse rough, weight 10.243 g, maximum diameter 30.3 mm, die axis 180o, Phrygia, Hierapolis (near Pamukkale, Turkey) mint, Oct 253 - c. Jun 260 A.D.; obverse AY• K• - ΠOY• ΛIK• OYAΛEPAN/OC, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, from the front, round countermark on face; reverse IEPAΠOΛE/ITΩN - KE - CAP∆IANΩN NEWK/OPΩN, Apollo on left, standing right, plectrum in right hand, kithara in left hand; cult statue of Kore facing, wearing kalathos and veil, OMONOYA in exergue; very rare;
Aetolian League, Aetolia, Greece, 205 - 150 B.C.
The Aetolian League was a confederation of tribal communities and cities centered in central Greece, probably established to oppose Macedon and the Achaean League. Other Greeks considered Aetolians to be semi-barbaric, but their league had an effective political and administrative structure and a powerful army. By the end of the 3rd century B.C., it controlled the whole of central Greece outside Attica. At its height, the league included Locris, Malis, Dolopes, part of Thessaly, Phocis, and Acarnania. Some Mediterranean city-states, such as Kydonia on Crete, joined. As the first Greek ally of the Roman Republic, the league helped defeat Philip V of Macedon. Roman meddling in Greek affairs shifted opinion and a few years later the league sided with Antiochus III, the anti-Roman Seleucid king. Antiochus' defeat in 189 B.C. forced the league to sign a treaty that allowed it to exist but made it an feeble pawn of the Roman Republic.RR88356. Bronze hemiobol, BCD 578, Tsangari 1534a, cf. SNG Cop 35; BMC Thessaly p. 99, 64; SGCV I 2323, aF, a little rough, edge crack, weight 3.726 g, maximum diameter 19.0 mm, die axis 45o, Aetolian mint, 205 - 150 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right, wearing a crested Corinthian helmet; reverse Herakles standing facing, head right, leaning on club in right hand, Nemean Lion's skin draped over left arm, AITΩ/ΛΩN in two downward lines starting on the right;
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