Coins and Antiquities Consignment Shop
  Welcome To Forum Ancient Coins!!! All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!! Please Call Us If You Have Questions 252-646-1958 or 252-497-2724 Expert Authentication - Accurate Descriptions - Reasonable Prices - Coins From Under $10 To Museum Quality Rarities Welcome To Forum Ancient Coins!!! 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


Show 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| ▸ |Ionia||View Options:  |  |  | 

Ionia

Ionia lies in central Western Anatolia (Asia Minor) on the shores of the Aegean Sea. The region is rather small and mountainous unsuited for agriculture but excellent for seafaring. Greek settlement took place in the 11th to 10th Centuries B.C. despite hostilities with the native Luwians (Indo-European people related to the Hittites and Lycians). After resisting fairly well to the Cimmerian invasion, the Ionians were gradually conquered by the Lycian Kingdom, and later by the Persian Empire. Ionia was freed by Alexander but became a contested prize for the Hellenistic kings, until the last king of Pergamum bequeathed his land to Rome. Ionia offered the world countless philosophers and men of science, and a fabulous school of art.

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.
SL113456. Silver cistophorus, RPC Online I 2221, RIC I 120 (R3, Pergamon), RSC II 3, BMCRE I 228, SRCV I 1838, NGC F, strike 5/5, surface 3/5 (2400265-002), weight 10.53 g, maximum diameter 26 mm, die axis 180o, probably Ephesos (near Selçuk, 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; from a Virginia Collector, ex Eastern Numismatics Inc. (Garden City, NY, 17 Jan 2013, $1695); NGC| Lookup; very rare; $1700.00 (€1598.00)


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

|Ephesos|, |Ephesos,| |Ionia| |(or| |perhaps| |Bargylia,| |Caria| |or| |Amyntas,| |King| |of| |Galatia),| |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. NGC tags for the type note 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.
GS98643. Silver trihemiobol, cf. SNG Davis 270, SNG Cop -, SNG Kayhan -, SNGvA -, BMC Galatia -, aVF, toned, light marks and scratches, weight 1.337 g, maximum diameter 12.3 mm, die axis 0o, Ephesos (near Selçuk, 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; extremely rare; $310.00 (€291.40)


Mytilene, Lesbos, 521 - 478 B.C., Ancient Counterfeit

|Lesbos|, |Mytilene,| |Lesbos,| |521| |-| |478| |B.C.,| |Ancient| |Counterfeit||hekte|
Counterfeiting began almost immediately after the first coinage was introduced. The official Mytilene coin was solid electrum, a mixture of gold and silver. This coin is plated with electrum over a base core, struck by a criminal counterfeiter in ancient times, intended for circulation as the official prototype. The low weight identifies this as is a plated coin.
GA114610. Fouree electrum plated hekte, cf. Bodenstedt 9.1, HGC 6 933 (official Mytilene mint prototype, solid electrum), VF, rough spots, weight 2.086 g, maximum diameter 10.3 mm, die axis 180o, unofficial criminal mint, 521 - 478 B.C.; obverse forepart of winged lion left; reverse incuse head of cock left, rectangular punch to right; $250.00 (€235.00)


Persian Empire, Kolophon, Ionia, Artaxerxes I - Darios III, c. 400 - 332 B.C.

|Colophon|, |Persian| |Empire,| |Kolophon,| |Ionia,| |Artaxerxes| |I| |-| |Darios| |III,| |c.| |400| |-| |332| |B.C.||tetartemorion|
In the past, this coin type was commonly grouped under the large "Uncertain Cilicia" umbrella. However, Nicolas Assur Corfù in his 2015 Schweizerische Numismatische Rundschau (SNR) paper, "Bogenschützen auf Kleinsilbermünzen vor 333 v.Chr. – Tetartemoria aus Kleinasien," attributes this and similar tetartemoria of Persian influence to the Ionian city of Colophon, c. 400–332 B.C., thereby filling a notable gap in its minting history, after the end of production of the various Apollo-headed tetartemoria.
GS113187. Silver tetartemorion, Corfù type 1.2, taf. 1, 17-18 (2 spec.); Troxell-Kagan 12 var. (Athena left); Sunrise 94 var. (same); SNG BnF -; SNG Levante -; Göktürk -, aVF/VF, obv. off-center, large die-break cud upper left; rev. nicely preserved in round circle, weight 0.240 g, maximum diameter 6.1 mm, die axis 0o, Kolophon (near Degirmendere Fev, Turkey) mint, c. 400–332 B.C.; obverse Persian king or hero kneeling in readiness to right, wearing kidaris and kandys, quiver over right shoulder, dagger in right hand, bow in left hand; reverse head of Athena right in crested Attic helmet; from the Michael Arslan Collection, ex Bucephalus Numismatics Auction 19 (6 May 2023), lot 280; very rare with Athena right; $140.00 (€131.60)


Anatolia (Uncertain Mint), Mid 3rd - Mid 1st Century B.C.

|Other| |Anatolia|, |Anatolia| |(Uncertain| |Mint),| |Mid| |3rd| |-| |Mid| |1st| |Century| |B.C.||obol|
Lacking a legend, this rare issue has been attributed to Ephesos by other dealers, likely because Artemis and stag types are typical of Ephesos, and perhaps knowing more about their find context.
GS113286. Silver obol, Apparently unpublished but other specimens known from auctions; SNG Cop -; SNGvA -; SNG Kayhan -; Klein -; et al. -, aVF, reverse rough, weight 0.444 g, maximum diameter 8.4 mm, die axis 0o, probably Ephesos (near Selcuk, Turkey) mint, mid 3rd - mid 1st century B.C.; obverse bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver over shoulder; reverse forepart of stag left, head reverted; very rare; $110.00 (€103.40)


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.||1/2| |unit|
Struck in the name of King Philip III Arrhidaeus, Alexander the Great's half-brother, under the regent Perdikkas. Philip III and Alexander's infant son, Alexander IV, were made joint kings after Alexander's death. Philip was the bastard son of Philip II and a dancer, Philinna of Larissa. Alexander the Great's mother, Olympias, allegedly poisoned her stepson Philip III as a child, leaving him mentally disabled, eliminating him as a rival to Alexander. Neither Philip III nor Alexander IV was capable of actual rule and both were selected only to serve as pawns. The regents held power, while Philip III was actually imprisoned. In 317, Philip was murdered by Olympias to ensure the succession of her grandson.
GB111207. Bronze 1/2 unit, Price 2072, VF, green patina, earthen deposits, some corrosion, light scrape on rev., weight 3.655 g, maximum diameter 14.0 mm, perhaps Miletos (near Balat, Turkey) mint, struck under Asandros, c. 323 - 319 B.C.; obverse Macedonian shield, pellet at boss center with three rings around, with five crescents around,; reverse crested Macedonian officer's helmet facing, with ear flaps, stalk of grain lower left, K lower right; from the Michael Arslan Collection; $90.00 (€84.60)


Magnesia ad Maeander, Ionia, c. 88 - 85 B.C.

|Magnesia| |ad| |Meandrum|, |Magnesia| |ad| |Maeander,| |Ionia,| |c.| |88| |-| |85| |B.C.||AE| |16|
Magnesia ad Maeandrum was an inland city of Ionia, located on a small tributary of the Maeander River about 12 miles southeast of Ephesus. "..the temple of Artemis Leukophryene, which in the size of its shrine and in the number of its votive offerings is inferior to the temple at Ephesos, but in the harmony and skill shown in the structure of the sacred enclosure is far superior to it. And in size it surpasses all the sacred enclosures in Asia except two, that at Ephesos (to Artemis) and that at Didymoi (to Apollo)" -- Strabo, Geography 14. 1. 40.
GB112055. Bronze AE 16, cf. SNG Cop 853; BMC Ionia p. 164, 47; SNGvA -, aVF, green patina, light earthen deposits, mild patina chipping on edge, weight 3.736 g, maximum diameter 16.2 mm, die axis 0o, Magnesia ad Maeandrum (near Tekin, Turkey) mint, c. 88 - 85 B.C.; obverse stag standing right, pellet-star (comet?) above left, MAΓNHT below; reverse cult statue of Artemis Leukophryene facing, wearing kalathos and veil, arms supported, magistrate's name in two flanking vertical lines; $90.00 (€84.60)


Geta, 209 - c. 26 December 211 A.D., Ephesos, Ionia

|Ephesos|, |Geta,| |209| |-| |c.| |26| |December| |211| |A.D.,| |Ephesos,| |Ionia||AE| |18|
At the beginning of the third century, Ephesus asked to build temples to Caracalla and Geta, brother-emperors and sworn enemies. Both agreed, but on separate temples. Caracalla allowed the honor of his to go to Ephesus' patron goddess Artemis. A new temple was to be built for Geta. After Caracalla killed Geta any sign of worship for the dead brother was eradicated.
RP112065. Bronze AE 18, Karwiese 5 553 (V1/R25), SNG Cop 429; SNG Leypold I 589; SNG Tubingen 2839; BMC Ionia p. 88, 288; Lindgren 468; SNGvA -, VF, dark patina with earthen encrustation, weight 2.806 g, maximum diameter 18.3 mm, die axis 135o, Ephesos (near Selçuk, Turkey) mint, as caesar, 198 - 209 A.D.; obverse Λ CEΠ ΓE-TAC KAI, bare-headed, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse EΦE-CIΩN, stag right; scarce; $90.00 (€84.60)


Ephesos, Ionia, 48 - 27 B.C.

|Ephesos|, |Ephesos,| |Ionia,| |48| |-| |27| |B.C.||AE| |24|
As the goddess of the hung, Artemis' most distinctive attributes were her bow, arrows and quiver, hounds and stags, but she was also called the torch-bearing goddess. Artemis was honored at Amphipolis with torch-races called Lampadephoria.
GB110655. Bronze AE 24, SNGvA 1870; SNG Cop 339 var. (M above); BMC Ionia p. 69, 179 var. (A above); SNG Tübingen 2800 var. (same), aF, green patina, scratches, earthen deposits, weight 7.088 g, maximum diameter 24.2 mm, die axis 0o, Ephesos (near Selçuk, Turkey) mint, 48 - 27 B.C.; obverse diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver on shoulder behind; reverse forepart of stag right, looking back left, flaming long torch behind, Θ above, E-Φ flanking stag's neck, ΔHMTPIOC (magistrate) below; $40.00 (€37.60)










REFERENCES|

Babelon, E. Traité des Monnaies Grecques et Romaines. (Paris, 1901-1932).
Babelon, E. La collection Waddington au cabinet des médailles. (Paris, 1897-1898).
Balcer, J. "The Early Coinage of Teos" in SNR 47. (1968).
Bauslaugh, R. "The posthumous Alexander coinage of Chios" in ANSMN 24 (1979).
Bodenstedt, F. Die Elektronmünzen von Phokaia und Mytilene. (Tübingen, 1981).
Brett, A. Catalogue of Greek Coins, Boston Museum of Fine Arts. (Boston, 1955).
Burnett, A., M. Amandry, et al. Roman Provincial Coinage. (1992 - ).
Deppert-Lippitz, B. Die Münzprägung Milets vom vierten bis ersten Jahrhundert v. Chr. Typos V. (Aarau, 1984).
Forrer, L. Descriptive Catalogue of the Collection of Greek Coins formed by Sir Hermann Weber. (1922 - 1929).
Head, B. A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Ionia. (London, 1892).
Jones, M. "The Autonomous Wreathed Tetradrachms of Magnesia on Maeander" in MN 24. (New York, 1979).
Klein, D. Sammlung von griechischen Kleinsilbermünzen und Bronzen, Nomismata 3. (Milano, 1999).
Klose, D. Die Münzprägung von Smyrna in der römischen Kaiserzeit. AMUGS X. (Berlin, 1987).
Lindgren, H. Ancient Greek Bronze Coins. (Quarryville, 1993).
Lindgren, H., & F. Kovacs. Ancient Bronze Coinage of Asia Minor and the Levant. (San Mateo, 1985).
Linzalone, J. Electrum And The Invention of Coinage. (New Jersey, 2011).
MacDonald, G. Catalogue of Greek Coins in the Hunterian Collection. (Glascow, 1899)
Marcellesi, M.-C. Milet des Hécatomnides à la domination romaine. Milesische Forschungen Bd. 3. (Mainz, 2004).
Milne, J.G. "The Autonomous Coinage of Smyrna" in NC 1923, 1927, and 1928.
Mionnet, T. E. Description de Médailles antiques grecques et romaines. (Paris, 1807-1837).
Price, M. J. The Coinage of in the Name of Alexander the Great and Philip Arrhidaeus. (London, 1991).
Schultz, S. Die Münzprägung von Magnesia am Mäander in der Römischen Kaiserzeit. (Berlin, 1975).
Sear, D. Greek Coins and Their Values, Volume 2, Asia and Africa. (London, 1979).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Denmark, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Vol. 5: Ionia, Caria and Lydia. (West Milford, NJ, 1982).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, München Staatlische Münzsammlung, Part 20: Ionien 1: (Frühes Elektron-Priene). (Berlin, 1995).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, Münzsammlung Universität Tübingen, Part 4: Mysien-Ionien. (Berlin, 1989).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, Sammlung Hans Von Aulock, Vol. 1: Pontus, Paphlagonia, Bithynia, Mysia, Troas, Aiolis, Lesbos, Ionia. (Berlin, 1957).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Finland, The Erkki Keckman Collection in the Skopbank, Helsinki, Part II: Asia Minor except Karia. (Helsinki, 1999).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Turkey 1: The Muharrem Kayhan Collection. (Istanbul, 2002).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Turkey 5: Tire Museum, Vol. 1: Roman Provincial Coins From Ionia, Lydia, Phrygia, etc. (Istanbul, 2011).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Turkey 7: Odemis Museum, Vol. 1: Roman Provincial Coins of Ionia, Lydia and etc. (Istanbul, 2012).
Thompson, M. Alexander's Drachm Mints I: Sardes and Miletos. ANSNS 16. (1983).
Thompson, M. "Posthumous Philip II Staters of Asia Minor" in Studia Naster (1982).
Thompson, M., & A. Bellinger. Greek Coins in the Yale Collection, IV: A Hoard of Alexander Drachms.. (1955).
Waggoner, N. Early Greek Coins from the Collection of Jonathan P. Rosen (ANS ACNAC 5). (New York, 1983).
Weidauer, L. Problemeder frühen Elektronprägung, Typos I. (Fribourg, 1975).

Catalog current as of Monday, March 18, 2024.
Page created in 1.672 seconds.
All coins are guaranteed for eternity