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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Anatolia| ▸ |Caria||View Options:   | | | Caria was a region of western Anatolia extending along the coast from mid-Ionia (Mycale) south to Lycia and east to Phrygia. The Ionian and Dorian Greeks colonized the west of it and joined the Carian population in forming Greek-dominated states there. |
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)
Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Alabanda, Caria
Alabanda was on the river Marsyas, about twenty miles south of its confluence with the Maeander. It allied with Rome in the war against Philip V of Macedon, c. 197 B.C. Antiochus III took it soon after and renamed it Antiocheia until his defeat in 190 B.C. at the battle of Magnesia. Price dated this series of Alexandrine tetradrachms beginning in 173 B.C. and ending in 167 B.C., when Alabanda was defeated after invading Rhodian territory. Cohen begins the era in 167 B.C., after Caria and Lycia were declared free by the Roman Senate.
The portrait countermarks of Caracalla and Geta (GIC 39i & 39ii) are well-known on Alabandian Roman provincials from the standpoint of their occurrence, but not much is known on why they exist. Writing in Greek Imperial Countermarks (1985), Christopher Howgego notes simply, “It is impossible to read the letters on many of the countermarks. The countermarks are not found on the coins of Caracalla's sole reign (unlike cmk 52) and therefore probably belong to the joint reign of Caracalla and Geta.” In part five of SNG Tübingen, however, we find two Severan coins of Alabanda probably marked with the bust of Julia Domna (nos. 3343 & 3346), in a manner similar to the other Severan countermarks. Also intriguing is the possibility of Severus within the obverse punch on BMC 46, who looks both laureate and bearded, in addition to a letter on either side of the portrait which may read “C – E” rather than “Γ – E.” In light of this evidence, one wonders if the purpose of the literal GIC 39 family of marks was tied to an imperial visit to Alabanda or the anticipation of one.RP112699. Bronze AE 26, BMC Caria, p. 8, 46 (same dies); SNG Tüb 3345, 3346 corr. (leg. arrangement); McClean 8442; countermarks: obv: Howgego 39ii; rev: Howgego -, F, green patina, scratches, areas flattened by countermarks, chipped patina on edge, scattered porosity on rev., weight 6.302 g, maximum diameter 25.8 mm, die axis 0o, Alabanda (Doganyurt, Turkey) mint, 28 Jan 198 - 8 Apr 217 A.D.; obverse ΑV Κ Μ ΑV Α – [ΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC?], laureate, cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; countermark: right-facing bust of Caracalla with sideways 'A' before (pointing inward), in a 6.5mm round punch; reverse [AΛ]ABANΔEΩN, kithara (lyre); countermark: eagle with wings open (?); the first example of this type handled by Forum; from the Michael Arslan Collection; added to the RPC Online V database; scarce; $120.00 (€112.80)
Rhodos, Carian Islands, 188 - 84 B.C.
In 190 B.C. a fleet from Rhodes defeated the Seleucid fleet under command of the fugitive Carthaginian general Hannibal. Rhodes was rewarded with territory and enhanced status, but clearly Rome now ruled the world and autonomy was dependent upon good relations. Those good graces evaporated in the wake of the Third Macedonian War. Rhodes had remained scrupulously neutral, but some Senators felt she had been too friendly with the defeated King Perseus. Some even proposed declaring war. In 164, Rhodes became a permanent ally of Rome, ending an independence that no longer had meaning. It was said that the Romans ultimately turned against the Rhodians because the islanders were the only people they had encountered who were more arrogant than themselves.GB99139. Bronze AE 15, SNG Cop 797; BMC Caria p. 250, 225; SNG Keckman 725 ff. var. (various controls in lower fields); HGC 6 1475 (S), VF, green patina, light earthen deposits, small edge chips, weight 1.950 g, maximum diameter 15.4 mm, die axis 0o, Rhodos (Rhodes, Greece) mint, 188 - 84 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Zeus right; reverse rose superimposed on solar disk with top of disk and rays rising above, bud on each side, P-O flanking in lower fields, no visible controls; scarce; $80.00 (€75.20)
Kidramos, Caria, c. 200 - 268 A.D.
Cidramus or Kidramos, also known as Kidrama, was between Sebastopolis and Cibyra in southern Caria. Its site, occupied until Byzantine times, is located near modern Yorga, Turkey.RP111947. Bronze AE 17, RPC Online VI T10964 (4 spec.); BMC Caria p. 81, 2; Waddington 4934; I-B MG p. 397, 91, VF, well centered, green patina, earthen deposits, porous, weight 2.540 g, maximum diameter 16.2 mm, die axis 180o, Kidramos (near Yorga, Turkey) mint, c. 200 - 268 A.D.; obverse ZEVC AYΔIOC, draped bust of Zeus right; reverse KIΔPAMHNΩN, Hermes standing facing, head left, nude but for chlamys on shoulders and behind, purse in right hand, caduceus in left hand; very rare; $70.00 (€65.80)
Aphrodisias, Caria, c. late 209 - early 211
The meaning of the leafless tree is uncertain. MacDonald discusses several theories but concludes only that the tree was likely "a sacred object in a local sanctuary" and "may represent some aspect of the mythology of the shrine." RP113229. Bronze assarion, MacDonald Aphrodisias type 104 (O152/R269); BMC Caria p. 35, 56; SNG Cop 101; SNGvA 2452 var. (rev. leg.), aF, dark brown patina, highlighting earthen deposits, scrape on obv., pitting, weight 7.964 g, maximum diameter 24.2 mm, die axis 0o, Aphrodisias (Geyre, Turkey) mint, magistrate Ti. Cl. Zenon, c. late 209 - early 211; obverse IEPACY NKΛHTOC, draped and diademed bust of Synkletos right; reverse KΛZHNΩAPX AΦPOΔICIEΩN, leafless tree of three branches rising from within latticed enclosure; ex CNG auction 534 (15 Mar 2023), lot 341 (misattributed, unsold, est. $100); rare; $60.00 (€56.40)
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