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| ▸ |Caria||View Options:  |  |  | 

Ancient Coins of Caria, Anatolia

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.

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)


Caria, Uncertain Mint D (?), c. 480 - 450 B.C.

|Other| |Caria|, |Caria,| |Uncertain| |Mint| |D| |(?),| |c.| |480| |-| |450| |B.C.||hemitartemorion|NEW
The denomination of hemitartemorion for our tiny silver fraction must remain uncertain. Troxell thought the Carian "Uncertain Mint D" series was struck according to the Attic standard, the Persic was supported in SNG Keckman I, and Konuk has favored the Milesian in his work, including SNG Kayhan I and "Coin Legends in Carian," in Ignacio Adiego's The Carian Language (2007). Historia Numorum Online (HNO) also states the coins are on the Milesian standard. If a Milesian stater weighs 14.2 grams, than the theoretical weight of a hemitartemorion would be ~0.15 grams.

Although the faces of both bulls do look a little "man-faced," Prof. Nicholas Molinari, author of ΠOTAMIKON: Sinews of Acheloios, A Comprehensive Catalog of the Bronze Coinage of the Man-Faced Bull, with Essays on Origin and Identity (2016), has expressed doubts on this hypothesis, although he was careful not to say it contained a bunch of bull.

For more information on another, more certain, "Uncertain Mint D" issue, search for GA113198 in the FORVM Shop catalog.
GA113197. Silver hemitartemorion, cf. HNO T2613 (larger denomination, different style), Troxwell Carians -, SNG Keckman I -, SNG Kayhan I -, Konuk Carian -, gF, well-defined bulls, grainy surfaces, rev. off-centered in an incuse circle, weight 0.174 g, maximum diameter 5.3 mm, die axis 180o, uncertain Carian mint, c. 480 - 450 B.C.; obverse forepart of an anthropomorphized(?) bull right with both forelegs; reverse forepart of an anthropomorphized(?) bull left with both forelegs; from the Michael Arslan Collection, possibly an unpublished hemitartemorion issue; extremely rare; $170.00 (€159.80)


Rhodos, Carian Islands, c. 88 - 84 B.C.

|Rhodos|, |Rhodos,| |Carian| |Islands,| |c.| |88| |-| |84| |B.C.||plinthophoric| |drachm|
Helios was the ancient Greek personification of the sun. Each day he drove the chariot of the sun across the sky. The Colossus of Rhodes, the sixth of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was a huge statue of Helios measuring 32 meters (100 feet) high, built at Rhodes in 280 B.C.

The c. 3 gram drachm standard on which this coin is struck, used by Rhodes and other Carian cities, is called 'Plinthophoric' for the square incuse around the reverse type (plinthos = brick or ingot). The archaized incuse reverse revived a characteristic more typical of the 5th century B.C.
GS113907. Silver plinthophoric drachm, Jenkins Rhodian, group E, 246; SNG Keckman 686; SNG Cop 836; SNG Mun 610, SNG Tub 3592; BMC Caria p. 255, 268; HGC 6 1461, VF, off center, obv. high points weak, tiny edge cracks, weight 2.290 g, maximum diameter 16.1 mm, die axis 0o, Rhodos (Rhodes, Greece) mint, magistrate Maes, c. 88 - 84 B.C.; obverse radiate head of Helios right; reverse Rose, budding branch on right, MAHC (magistrate) above, P-O flanking at sides, uncertain control symbol lower right, all within an incuse square; from the Michael Arslan Collection; $160.00 (€150.40)


Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Alabanda, Caria

|Other| |Caria|, |Caracalla,| |28| |January| |198| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.,| |Alabanda,| |Caria||AE| |26|
The portrait countermarks of Caracalla and Geta (Howgego 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 Caria 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 "G – E." In light of this evidence, one wonders if the purpose of the literal Howgego 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 AΛABANΔEΩN, 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)


Halikarnassos, Caria, c. 510 - 480 B.C.

|Halikarnassus|, |Halikarnassos,| |Caria,| |c.| |510| |-| |480| |B.C.||Samian| |tetrobol|
In Greek Mythology, Ketos was a hideous sea-monster, daughter of Gaia and Pontos. In time it became the name of any sea-monster. Our word cetacean is derived from this name.

This type and companion fractions were long attributed to Kindya. The discovery of a coin bearing the reverse legend 'AΛIKAP' allowed for a certain reattribution of the series to Halikarnassos.
GA113835. Silver Samian tetrobol, SNG Kayhan 815, Asyut 688, SNG Keckman 920 var. (Ketos left), aVF, tight flan, porosity, die wear, weight 1.873 g, maximum diameter 12.4 mm, Halikarnassos (Bodrum, Turkey) mint, c. 510 - 480 B.C.; obverse head of ketos right; reverse stellate pattern in latticed frame set diagonally within incuse square; ex Leu Numismatik web auction 26 (8-13 Jul 2023), lot 6955 (part of); $110.00 (€103.40)


Rhodos, Carian Islands, c. 170 - 150 B.C.

|Rhodos|, |Rhodos,| |Carian| |Islands,| |c.| |170| |-| |150| |B.C.||plinthophoric| |hemidrachm|
The c. 3 gram drachm standard on which this coin is struck, used by Rhodes and other Carian cities, is called 'Plinthophoric' for the square incuse around the reverse type (plinthos = brick or ingot). The archaized incuse reverse revived a characteristic more typical of the 5th century B.C.
GS112255. Silver plinthophoric hemidrachm, Jenkins Rhodian, group B, 42; SNG Keckman 649; BMC Caria p. 257, 303; HGC 6 1462 (S); SNG Cop -, aVF, uneven toning, bumps and scratches, weight 0.922 g, maximum diameter 12.4 mm, die axis 0o, Rhodos (Rhodes, Greece) mint, magistrate Dionysios, c. 170 - 150 B.C.; obverse radiate head of Helios facing slightly right; reverse rose with budding branch right, ΔIONYΣIOΣ (magistrate) above, P-O flanking at sides, cornucopia (control symbol) lower left, all within incuse square; $90.00 (€84.60)


Rhodos, Carian Islands, 190 - 85 B.C.

|Rhodos|, |Rhodos,| |Carian| |Islands,| |190| |-| |85| |B.C.||AE| |15|NEW
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 Keckman 727; HGC 6 1475 (S); BMC Caria p. 250, 223 var. (dolphin lower right); SNG Cop 797 var. (no control), 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, 190 - 85 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, branch (control) left; scarce; $80.00 (€75.20)


Rhodos, Carian Islands, 340 - 316 B.C.

|Rhodos|, |Rhodos,| |Carian| |Islands,| |340| |-| |316| |B.C.||hemidrachm|NEW
Rhodes was an important slave-trading center, best known for The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The giant statue of Helios was finished in 280 B.C., but destroyed by an earthquake later in that century. It inspired later sculptures including the Statue of Liberty.
GS114504. Silver hemidrachm, HN Online T382; Ashton 2001, 102; SNG Cop 740; SNG Keckman I 429; SNGvA 2794; SNG Berry 1119; BMC Caria -, F, toned, lightly etched surfaces, good centering, earthen deposits in recesses, rev. die wear, weight 1.534 g, maximum diameter 12.0 mm, die axis 0o, Rhodos (Rhodes, Greece) mint, c. 340 - 316 B.C.; obverse head of Helios facing slightly right; reverse rose with bud to right, vertical club left with handle up, P-O flanking rose low across inner field, all within a semi-square incuse; $80.00 (€75.20)


Aphrodisias, Caria, c. late 209 - early 211

|Other| |Caria|, |Aphrodisias,| |Caria,| |c.| |late| |209| |-| |early| |211||assarion|
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)


Rhodos, Carian Islands, 190 - 85 B.C.

|Rhodos|, |Rhodos,| |Carian| |Islands,| |190| |-| |85| |B.C.||AE| |14|NEW
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.
GB114749. Bronze AE 14, SNG Cop 797; BMC Caria p. 250, 225; SNG Keckman 725 ff. var. (various controls in lower fields); HGC 6 1475 (S), F, green patina, buff earthen deposits, weight 1.787 g, maximum diameter 14.0 mm, die axis 0o, Rhodos (Rhodes, Greece) mint, 190 - 85 B.C.; obverse laureate and bearded 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; $60.00 (€56.40)










REFERENCES

Akarca, A. Les Monnaies Grecques de Mylasa. (Paris, 1959).
Ashton, R. "Rhodian Bronze Coinage and the Earthquake of 229-226 BC" in NC 1986.
Ashton, R. "Rhodian Bronze Coinage and the Siege of Mithradates VI" in NC 2001.
Ashton, R. "Rhodian Coinage and the Colossus" in RN 144 (1988).
Ashton, R. "Rhodian coinage in the early imperial period (CH 3: no. 82)" in Recent Turkish Coin Hoards and Numismatic Studies.
Ashton, R. "Rhodian Plinthophoroi-a Sketch" in Kraay-Mørkholm Essays.
Ashton, R. "Rhodian-Type Silver Coinages from Crete" in SM 146 (May 1987).
Ashton, R. "The Coinage of Rhodes 408-c. 190 BC" in Money and its Uses in the Ancient Greek World. (Oxford, 2001).
Ashton, R. "The Pseudo-Rhodian Drachms of Mylasa" in NC 1992.
Ashton, R. & G. Reger. "The Pseudo-Rhodian Drachms of Mylasa Revisited" in Studies Kroll.
Ashton, R. & A.P. Weiss. "The Post-Plinthophoric Silver Drachms of Rhodes" in NC 1997.
Ashton, R., et al. "The Pixodarus Hoard" in Coin Hoards IX (2002).
Burnett, A., M. Amandry, et al. Roman Provincial Coinage. (1992 - ). Cahn, H. Knidos - Die Münzen des Sechsten und des Fünften Jahrhunderts v. Chr. AMUGS IV. (Berlin, 1970).
Delrieux, F. Les monnaies des cités grecques de la basse vallée de l'Harpasos en Carie (IIe siècle aC - IIIe siècle pC). (Pessac, 2008).
Forrer, L. Descriptive Catalogue of the Collection of Greek Coins formed by Sir Hermann Weber, Vol. III, Part 1. (London, 1926).
Göktürk, M. "A Hoard of Hellenistic Silver Coins of Myndos, Halikarnassos, and Knidos" in Studies in Ancient Coinage from Turkey. (London, 1996).
Grose, S. Catalogue of the McClean Collection of Greek Coins, Fitzwilliam Museum, Vol. II: The Greek mainland, the Aegaean islands, Crete. (Cambridge, 1926).
Head, B. A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Caria, Cos, Rhodes, etc. (London, 1897).
HNO - Historia Numorum Online Database - http://hno.huma-num.fr
Hurter. S. "Lions and lionesses, eagles and a few heads: a new uncertain mint in Caria" in Essays Hersh.
Imhoof-Blumer, F. Kleinasiatische Münzen. (Vienna, 1901-2).
Imhoof-Blumer, F. Zur griechischen und römischen Münkunde. (Vienna, 1908).
Jenkins, G. "Rhodian Plinthophoroi" in Kraay-Mørkholm Essays.
Klein, D. Sammlung von griechischen Kleinsilbermünzen und Bronzen, Nomismata 3. (Milano, 1999).
Konuk, K. "Coinage and Identities under the Hekatomnids" in Henry. (Paris, 2013).
Konuk, K. "Influences et Eléments Achéménides dans le monnayage de la Carie" in MIMAA.
Konuk, K. "The Early Coinage of Kaunos" in Essays Price, pp. 197 - 224 & pls. 47 - 50.
Lederer, P. "Neue Beiträge zur antiken Münzkunde aus schweizerischen öffentlichen und privaten Sammlungen" in RSN 30 (1943), pp. 1-103.
Lindgren, H. & F. Kovacs. Ancient Bronze Coins of Asia Minor and the Levant. (San Mateo, 1985).
Meadows, A.R. "Stratonikeia in Caria: the Hellenistic City and its Coinage" in NC 2002.
Mildenberg, L. & S. Hurter, eds. The Dewing Collection of Greek Coins. ACNAC 6. (New York, 1985).
Mionnet, T. Description de Médailles antiques grecques et romaines, Vol 3: Aeolis - Cyprus. (Paris, 1808).
Mitchiner, M. Ancient Trade and Early Coinage. (London, 2004).
Numismatik Lanz, Auktion 13: Sammlung Karl, Münzen von Karien. (27 Nov 2006).
Price, M. & N. Waggoner. Archaic Greek Silver Coinage, The "Asyut" Hoard. (London, 1975).
Robert, J. & L. La Carie II. (Paris, 1954).
Sear, D. Greek Coins and Their Values, Vol. 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, Münzsammlung Universität Tübingen, Part 5: Karien und Lydien. (Berlin, 1994).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, Sammlung Hans Von Aulock, Vol. 2: Caria, Lydia, Phrygia, Lycia, Pamphylia. (Berlin, 1962).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Finland, The Erkki Keckman Collection in the Skopbank, Helsinki, Part 1: Karia. (Helsinki, 1994).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain VI, Corpus Christi College Cambridge, The Lewis Collection II: The Greek Imperial Coins. (1992).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Turkey I: The Muharrem Kayhan Collection. (Istanbul, 2002).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Turkey VIII: Mugla Museum, Vol. 1: Caria. (Istanbul, 2012).
Troxell, H. "Carians in Miniature" in Studies Mildenberg.
Troxell, H. "Winged Carians" in Essays Thompson.
Yarkin, U. "The Coinage of Syangela in Caria" in NC 1975.
Waggoner, N. Early Greek Coins from the Collection of Jonathan P. Rosen. (New York, 1983).
Weidauer, L. Problemeder frühen Elektronprägung, Typos I. (Fribourg, 1975).

Catalog current as of Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
Page created in 1.422 seconds.
All coins are guaranteed for eternity