GREEK, Lycaonia, Laranda

Lykaonia, Laranda. 323-322 BC. AR Hemiobol 0.45g, head of Baal (Hercules) , right. Rev. Forepart of wolf right, above L Ref.: Gokturk 70

literature. The coin was found in a hoard, in 2009, not far from his native city. Most likely the treasure was laid during the invasion of the region diadoch Perdiccas, who undertook to conquer Eumenes this region. This coin, which was probably minted for the city's defense, is very similar to the referenced coins. City Laranda was destroyed in 322 BC The obverse of the coin depicts the Baal or Melkart - deity who later the Romans identified with Heracles. Wolf on the reverse is likely to relate to the cult of Apollo Likeys (gr. likos = wolf) - one of the most ancient of worship among the Greeks. This cult was especially popular in southern Asia Minor - in Lycia, Cilicia, etc. Very names of these regions contain the root of "wolf" and speak for themselves. A curious technology that was used for coinage coins: blanks are rectangular in shape and have sharp edges. It is very likely that their cut from sheet metal. Maybe that's why all the coins of this type are surprisingly accurate weight - 0.45 grams.