Coins and Antiquities Consignment Shop
  10% Off Store-Wide Sale Until 2 April!!! All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!! Please Call Us If You Have Questions 252-646-1958 Expert Authentication - Accurate Descriptions - Reasonable Prices - Coins From Under $10 To Museum Quality Rarities 10% Off Store-Wide Sale Until 2 April!!! All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!! Internet Challenged? We Are Happy To Take Your Order Over The Phone 252-646-1958 Explore Our Website And Find Joy In The History, Numismatics, Art, Mythology, And Geography Of Coins!!!

×Catalog Main Menu
Fine Coins Showcase

Antiquities Showcase
New & Reduced


Hide empty categories
Shop Search
Shopping Cart
My FORVM
Contact Us
About Forum
Shopping at Forum
Our Guarantee
Payment Options
Shipping Options & Fees
Privacy & Security
Forum Staff
Selling Your Coins
Identifying Your Coin
FAQs
zoom.asp
   View Categories
Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Anatolia| ▸ |Phrygia| ▸ |Apameia Cibotus||View Options:  |  |  |   

Ancient Greek Coins of Apameia ad Maeandrum (Apameia Cibotus), Phrygia

Apameia ad Meandrum (or Apamea, Apamea Cibotus, or Apamea Kibotos) was founded in the 3rd century B.C. by Antiochus I Soter, who named it after his mother Apama, and transplanted many Jews there. (Josephus, Ant. xii. 3, § 4). It became a seat of Seleucid power and a center of Graeco-Roman and Graeco-Hebrew civilization. After Antiochus' departure for the East, Apamea lapsed to the Pergamene kingdom and thence to Rome in 133 B.C., but it was sold to Mithridates V of Pontus, who held it till 120 B.C. After the Mithridatic Wars it became and remained a great center for trade, largely carried on by resident Italians and by Jews. On the great road to Cappadocia, and at the center of other roads, Apamea was a place of trade next in importance to Ephesus in the Roman province of Asia. By order of Flaccus, a large amount of Jewish money – nearly 45 kilograms of gold – intended for the Temple in Jerusalem was confiscated in Apamea in the year 62 B.C. Apamea is mentioned in the Talmud (Ber. 62a, Niddah, 30b and Yeb. 115b). Saint Paul probably visited the place when he went throughout Phrygia and Christianity was likely established early. The mid 3d century coins of Apamea with scenes of Noah and his ark are among the earliest biblical scenes in Roman art. Apameia's decline began with the local disorganization of the empire in the 3rd century and when trade routes were diverted to Constantinople. Although a bishopric, it was not important in Byzantine times. Its ruin was completed by an earthquake. Apamea Kibotos

Side, Pamphylia, c. 220 - 190 B.C., Apameia ad Maeandrum, Phrygia Countermark

|Side|, |Side,| |Pamphylia,| |c.| |220| |-| |190| |B.C.,| |Apameia| |ad| |Maeandrum,| |Phrygia| |Countermark||tetradrachm|
Interesting countermark applied c. 180 B.C. with the introduction of the Cistophoric coinage. On our coin the countermark reads AΠA (for Apamea Maeandrum, Phrygia). Other cities that applied similar countermarks to Attic weight coins are Ephesos, Laodikea, Pergamon, Sardes and Tralles.
SH29561. Silver tetradrachm, SNGvA 4790; c/m: see Bauslaugh Countermarks, aVF, weight 16.026 g, maximum diameter 29.9 mm, die axis 0o, Side (near Selimiye, Antalya Province, Turkey) mint, c. 220 - 190 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right in a crested Corinthian helmet, round countermark of bow in case and A-ΠA legend on left; reverse Nike advancing left, wreath extended in right, pomegranate in left field, ΔIO below (magistrate's name); SOLD


Apameia ad Maeandrum, Phrygia, 150 - 140 B.C.

|Apameia| |Cibotus|, |Apameia| |ad| |Maeandrum,| |Phrygia,| |150| |-| |140| |B.C.||cistophoric| |tetradrachm|
Apameia was named for Apama, the mother of the founder, the Seleucid king Antiochos I.

The cista mystica was a basket used for housing sacred snakes in connection with the initiation ceremony into the cult of Bacchus (Dionysus). In the Dionysian mysteries a snake, representing the god and possibly symbolic of his phallus, was carried in a cista mystica on a bed of vine leaves. The cista in the mysteries of Isis may also have held a serpent, perhaps associated with the missing phallus of Osiris.
SH63587. Silver cistophoric tetradrachm, Kleiner-Noe, issue XI, 21; SNGvA 3451 and 8333; cf. BMC Phrygia p. 69, 7 (no star); SNG Cop -, VF, uneven toning, weight 12.522 g, maximum diameter 28.0 mm, die axis 0o, Phrygia, Apameia ad Maeandrum (Dinar, Turkey) mint, 150 - 140 B.C.; obverse Cista mystica with half open lid, from which a snake emerges left, all within ivy wreath; reverse two coiled serpents with heads erect, between them an ornamented bow-case with strap on right, bow sticking out from the top left side of case, snake on the right wrapped around two flutes, AΠA monogram left, pileus surmounted by star right; interesting ornate cista mystica; SOLD


Apameia ad Maeandrum, Phrygia, 88 - 76 B.C.

|Apameia| |Cibotus|, |Apameia| |ad| |Maeandrum,| |Phrygia,| |88| |-| |76| |B.C.||cistophoric| |tetradrachm|
Apameia was named for Apama, the mother of the founder, the Seleucid king Antiochos I. Apameia suffered frequent earthquakes and one reduced it to ruins early in the first century B.C. In 88 B.C., the city peacefully opened its gates to king Mithradates of Pontos. As a reward, Mithradates granted the city 100 talents for restoration. Kleiner suggests this type is related to Mithradates' gift. The emission of cistophori by Apameia undoubtedly ended in 67 B.C., the same time the issues ended at Ephesos.
SH63588. Silver cistophoric tetradrachm, Kleiner Apameia, issue XI, 19; SNGvA 8337; SNG Cop 154; BMC Phrygia p. 71, 17, VF, weight 12.398 g, maximum diameter 25.4 mm, die axis 45o, Phrygia, Apameia ad Maeandrum (Dinar, Turkey) mint, 88 - 76 B.C.; obverse Cista mystica with half open lid, from which a snake emerges left, all within ivy wreath; reverse two coiled serpents with heads erect, between them an ornamented bow-case with strap on right, bow sticking out from the top left side of case, snake on the right wrapped around two flutes, AΠA left, MYIΣ/KOY between the snakes heads; SOLD


Apameia ad Maeandrum, Phrygia, 88 - 76 B.C.

|Apameia| |Cibotus|, |Apameia| |ad| |Maeandrum,| |Phrygia,| |88| |-| |76| |B.C.||cistophoric| |tetradrachm|
Apameia was named for Apama, the mother of the founder, the Seleucid king Antiochos I. Apameia suffered frequent earthquakes and one reduced it to ruins early in the first century B.C. In 88 B.C., the city peacefully opened its gates to king Mithradates of Pontos. As a reward, Mithradates granted the city 100 talents for restoration. Kleiner suggests this type is related to Mithradates' gift. The emission of cistophori by Apameia undoubtedly ended in 67 B.C., the same time the issues ended at Ephesos.
SH69293. Silver cistophoric tetradrachm, Kleiner Apameia, VI, 9; BMC Phrygia p. 71, 15; SNGvA -; SNG Cop -, VF, obverse struck with a worn die, weight 12.378 g, maximum diameter 23.4 mm, die axis 0o, Phrygia, Apameia ad Maeandrum (Dinar, Turkey) mint, magistrate Dionysios, 88 - 76 B.C.; obverse Cista mystica with half open lid, from which a snake emerges left, all within ivy wreath; reverse two coiled snakes with heads erect, ornamented bow-case between them with strap on right, bow emerging from top left side of case, snake wrapped around two flutes on the right, AΠA left (off flan), ΔIONY/ΣIOY between the snake heads; SOLD


Hadrian, 11 August 117 - 10 July 138 A.D., Apameia ad Maeandrum, Phrygia

|Apameia| |Cibotus|, |Hadrian,| |11| |August| |117| |-| |10| |July| |138| |A.D.,| |Apameia| |ad| |Maeandrum,| |Phrygia||hemiassarion|
While playing the flute Athena saw her reflection in the water and disturbed by how her cheeks looked, puffed up while playing, threw away the instrument in disgust. The satyr Marsyas picked up the flute and since it had once been inspired by the breath of a goddess, it played beautifully on its own accord. Elated by his success, Marsyas challenged Apollo to a musical contest. For the prize, the victor could do what he pleased with the vanquished. The Muses were the umpires. Apollo played the cithara and Marsyas the flute. Only after Apollo added his voice to the music of his lyre was the contest decided in his favor. As a just punishment for the presumption of Marsyas, Apollo bound him to an evergreen tree and flayed him alive. His blood was the source of the river Marsyas, and Apollo hung up his skin, like a wine bag, in the cave out of which that river flows.
RP97259. Brass hemiassarion, RPC Online III 2585 (14 spec); BMC Phrygia p. 95, 152; SNG Mun XXIV 154; SNG Tub VI 3983; SNG Hunt I 2028, Weber III 7035, VF, attractive style, well centered and struck on a tight flan, nice green patina, light marks, weight 4.410 g, maximum diameter 17.7 mm, die axis 180o, Phrygia, Apameia ad Maeandrum (Dinar, Turkey) mint, 11 Aug 117 - 10 Jul 138 A.D.; obverse AY KAI TP AΔPIANOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front; reverse MAPCY/AC (upward on left last two letters in left field), AΠAME/ΩN (downward on right, last two letters in right field), satyr Marsyas walking right, nude but for nebris (skin of a fawn) tied on his neck and flying behind, playing Athena's double flute; ex Numismatik Naumann auction 92 (2 Aug 2020), lot 520; SOLD


Apameia ad Maeandrum, Phrygia, c. 100 - 48 B.C.

|Apameia| |Cibotus|, |Apameia| |ad| |Maeandrum,| |Phrygia,| |c.| |100| |-| |48| |B.C.||AE| |26|
Apameia ad Meandrum (or Apamea Cibotus) was an ancient city founded in the 3rd century B.C. by Antiochus I Soter, who named it after his mother Apama. It was in Hellenistic Phrygia, but became part of the Roman province of Pisidia. Apamea is mentioned in the Talmud (Ber. 62a, Niddah, 30b and Yeb. 115b). Christianity was very likely established early in the city. Saint Paul probably visited the place when he went throughout Phrygia. The mid third century A.D. coins of Apamea Kibotos with scenes of Noah and his ark are among the earliest biblical scenes in Roman art. Apamea continued to be a prosperous town under the Roman Empire. Its decline began with the local disorganization of the empire in the 3rd century and when trade routes were diverted to Constantinople. Although a bishopric, it was not an important military or commercial center in Byzantine times. Its ruin was completed by an earthquake. Apamea Cibotus
GB90319. Bronze AE 26, SNG Cop 161 - 162; SNGvA 3466 - 3467; SNG Munchen 114; BMC Phrygia p. 83, 78 - 82 (none with countermark), aVF, earthen and dark green patina, weight 8.211 g, maximum diameter 26.0 mm, die axis 0o, Phrygia, Apameia ad Maeandrum (Dinar, Turkey) mint, Kokos, magistrate, c. 100 - 48 B.C.; obverse bust of Athena right, wearing high-crested Corinthian helmet and aegis; c/m: facing bull's head in round punch; reverse eagle alighting right from a basis ornamented with meander pattern, star above, basis flanked on each side by a star above a pileus, AΠAMΕΩN above, KOKOY below; ex CNG auction 231 (14 Apr 2010), lot 106 ($180 plus fees); SOLD


Caligula, 16 March 37 - 24 January 41 A.D., Apameia ad Maeandrum, Phrygia

|Apameia| |Cibotus|, |Caligula,| |16| |March| |37| |-| |24| |January| |41| |A.D.,| |Apameia| |ad| |Maeandrum,| |Phrygia||AE| |15|
This type is listed in RPC I and SNG Munchen as Gaius Julius Caesar, and with his bare-headed portrait. Some confusion can be expected with so few known specimens, but the plate coin is laureate in both references. SNGvA correctly identifies the ruler as laureate and Caligula, but attributes it to Aezani.
RP84903. Bronze AE 15, RPC I 3130 (2 spec.) corr. (bare head, Gaius Caesar), SNG Munchen 145 corr. (same), SNGvA 8305 (Aezani), BMC Phrygia -, SNG Tübingen -, VF, well centered on a tight flan, earthen deposits, porous, weight 3.743 g, maximum diameter 15.4 mm, die axis 0o, Phrygia, Apameia ad Maeandrum (Dinar, Turkey) mint, 16 Mar 37 - 24 Jan 41 A.D.; obverse ΓAIOΣ KAIΣAP, laureate head right; reverse facing cult statue of Artemis, with arm supports, MAΣΩNIOΣ POYΦOΣ (magistrate) in two downward lines the first on the right, and second on the left, AΠAMΕΩN in exergue; very rare; SOLD


Apameia ad Maeandrum, Phrygia, c. 88 - 40 B.C.

|Apameia| |Cibotus|, |Apameia| |ad| |Maeandrum,| |Phrygia,| |c.| |88| |-| |40| |B.C.||AE| |21|
Rome received Apameia with the Pergamene Kingdom in 133 B.C., but sold it to Mithridates V of Pontus, who held it till 120 BC. After the Mithridatic Wars it became a great center for trade, largely carried on by resident Italians and Jews. By order of Flaccus, nearly 45 kilograms of gold, intended by Jews for the Temple in Jerusalem was confiscated in Apamea in 62 B.C.
GB81555. Bronze AE 21, SNG Cop 163; SNGvA 3468; BMC Phrygia p. 76, 37; HGC 7 670, gVF, attractive dark patina, weight 7.886 g, maximum diameter 20.9 mm, die axis 0o, Phrygia, Apameia ad Maeandrum (Dinar, Turkey) mint, Andronikos, son of Alkios, 88 - 40 B.C.; obverse bust of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet and aegis; reverse eagle alighting right on to basis ornamented with a maeander pattern, star above, basis flanked by caps of the Dioskouroi with stars above, AΠAMΕΩN above, ANΔPONIK AΛKIOY (magistrate) below; SOLD


Apameia ad Maeandrum, Phrygia, 88 - 76 B.C.

|Apameia| |Cibotus|, |Apameia| |ad| |Maeandrum,| |Phrygia,| |88| |-| |76| |B.C.||cistophoric| |tetradrachm|
Apameia was named for Apama, the mother of the founder, the Seleucid king Antiochos I. Apameia suffered frequent earthquakes and one reduced it to ruins early in the first century B.C. In 88 B.C., the city peacefully opened its gates to king Mithradates of Pontos. As a reward, Mithradates granted the city 100 talents for restoration. Kleiner suggests this type is related to Mithradates' gift. The emission of cistophori by Apameia undoubtedly ended in 67 B.C., the same time the issues ended at Ephesos.
GS113205. Silver cistophoric tetradrachm, Kleiner Apameia 7 (same obv. die); SNG Cop 151; BMC Phrygia p. 70, 10; Pinder 9; SNGvA -, VF, obv. off center, encrustation, corrosion, bumps and scratches, weight 12.869 g, maximum diameter 23.52 mm, die axis 180o, Phrygia, Apameia ad Maeandrum (Dinar, Turkey) mint, 88 - 76 B.C.; obverse Cista mystica with half open lid, from which a snake emerges left, all within ivy wreath; reverse two coiled serpents with heads erect, between them an ornamented bow-case with strap on right, bow sticking out from the top left side of case, snake on the right wrapped around two flutes, AΠA left, ΓYOY between the snakes heads; from the Michael Arslan Collection; ex Bucephalus Numismatics auction 19 (6 May 2023), lot 246; SOLD


Apameia ad Maeandrum, Phrygia, c. 189 - 133 B.C.

|Apameia| |Cibotus|, |Apameia| |ad| |Maeandrum,| |Phrygia,| |c.| |189| |-| |133| |B.C.||cistophoric| |tetradrachm|
The cista mystica was a basket used for housing sacred snakes in connection with the initiation ceremony into the cult of Bacchus (Dionysus). In the Dionysian mysteries a snake, representing the god and possibly symbolic of his phallus, was carried in a cista mystica on a bed of vine leaves. The cista in the mysteries of Isis may also have held a serpent, perhaps associated with the missing phallus of Osiris.
GS82048. Silver cistophoric tetradrachm, SNGvA 3448 ff. var. (control marks), SNG Cop 147 - 148 var. (same); BMC Phrygia p. 69, 1 ff. var. (same), VF, weight 11.933 g, maximum diameter 28.3 mm, die axis 180o, Phrygia, Apameia ad Maeandrum (Dinar, Turkey) mint, obverse cista mystica, half-open lid, from which serpent emerges left, all within ivy-wreath; reverse two coiled snakes flanking bow-case ornamented with floral scroll like an apluster, ligate AΠ monogram (Apameia) outer left, control letters ligate HΠ inner left, club right; rare; SOLD




  




You are viewing a SOLD items page.
Click here to return to the page with AVAILABLE items.
The sale price for a sold item is the private information of the buyer and will not be provided.



REFERENCES

Bloesch, H. Griechische Münzen in Winterthur, Vol. 2: Bosporus, Pontus, Armenia, Paphlagonia, Bithynia, Mysia, Troas, Phrygia.... (Winterthur, 1987).
Brett, A. Catalogue of Greek Coins, Boston Museum of Fine Arts. (Boston, 1955).
Burnett, A., M. Amandry, et al. Roman Provincial Coinage. (1992 - ).
de Callataÿ, F. "Le premier monnayage de la cité d'Amastris (Paphlagonie)" in SNR 2004.
Forrer, L. Descriptive Catalogue of the Collection of Greek Coins formed by Sir Hermann Weber, Vol. III, Part 2. (London, 1929).
Head, B. A Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum, Phrygia. (London, 1906).
Hoover, O. Handbook of Coins of Northern and Central Anatolia, Pontos, Paphlagonia, Bithynia, Phrygia...5th to 1st Centuries BC. HGC 7. (Lancaster, PA, 2012).
Kleiner, F. "The Late Cistophori of Apameia" in Essays Thompson.
Kleiner, F. & S. Noe. The Early Cistophoric Coinage. ANSNS 14 (1977).
Lindgren, H. Lindgren III: Ancient Greek Bronze Coins. (Quarryville, 1993).
Lindgren, H. & F. Kovacs. Ancient Bronze Coins of Asia Minor and the Levant. (San Mateo, 1985).
Mildenberg, L. & S. Hurter, eds. The Dewing Collection of Greek Coins. ACNAC 6. (New York, 1985).
Roman Provincial Coinage Online - http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/
Sear, D. Greek Coins and Their Values, Vol. 2: Asia and Africa. (London, 1979).
Sear, D. Greek Imperial Coins and Their Values. (London, 1982).
Strauss, P. Collection Maurice Laffaille - monnaies grecques en bronze. (Bàle, 1990).
Sutherland, C. & C. Kraay. Catalogue of Coins of the Roman Empire in the Ashmolean Museum, Part I: Augustus. (Oxford, 1975).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Denmark, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Vol. 6: Phrygia to Cilicia. (West Milford, NJ, 1982).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, München Staatlische Münzsammlung, Part| 24: Phrygien. (Berlin, 1989).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, Münzsammlung Universität Tübingen, Part| 6: Phrygien-Kappadokien; Römische Provinzprägungen in Kleinasien. (Berlin, 1998).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, Sammlung Hans Von Aulock, Vol. 2: Caria, Lydia, Phrygia, Lycia, Pamphylia. (Berlin, 1962).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain III, R.C. Lockett Collection, Part 5: Lesbos - Cyrenaica. Addenda. (gold and silver). (London, 1949).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain IV, Fitzwilliam Museum, Leake and General Collections, Part 6: Asia Minor: Pontus-Phrygia. (London, 1965).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain IX, British Museum, Part 1: The Black Sea. (London, 1993).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain XI, The William Stancomb Collection of Coins of the Black Sea Region. (Oxford, 2000).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain XII, The Hunterian Museum, Univ. of Glasgow, Part 1: Roman Provincial Coins: Spain-Kingdoms of Asia Minor. (Oxford, 2004).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Österreich, Sammlung Leypold, Kleinasiatische Münzen der Kaiserzeit, Vol. II: Phrygia-Commagene. (Vienna, 2004).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Russia, State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts: Coins of the Black Sea Region. (Leuven, Belgium, 2011).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Schweiz II, Katalog der Sammlung Jean-Pierre Righetti im Bernischen Historischen Museum. (Bern, 1993).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Turkey 5: Tire Museum (Izmir), Vol. 1: Roman Provincial Coins From Ionia, Lydia, Phrygia, etc. (Istanbul, 2011).

Catalog current as of Thursday, March 28, 2024.
Page created in 1.392 seconds.
All coins are guaranteed for eternity