Finding definitive information on the pre-Hellenistic City of Nagidus has proven difficult. It seems any mention by Historians of Antiquity simply refer to the name by means of defining a location, only; as compared to describing the culture, customs, or history. Other information provided by modern scholars seems to be theoretical conjecture, i.e. providing a derivative theory behind the name, Nagidus, itself. The thought being, Nagidos was named after a possible 5th century BC founder named Nagis of Samos. The location places us at the south western shore of Cilicia; with their closest coin minting neighbors of Kelenderis, lying 20 miles east. The obverse shows a turreted Aphrodite, the Goddess of love, fertility, and sex, pouring from a phiale over a garlanded altar. Although I've only seen one other example describing the altar having an open flame on top, I would agree and it appears to be ignited on my specific example. The phiale or more commonly used synonym, patera, is a shallow bowl used for sacrificial pouring of liquids or grains. The reverse shows the more masculine version of Dionysus, God of wine making, wild festivities, flora, and fertility, holding a grape bunch from the vine and holding a thyrsus. The thyrsus is specifically attributed to being a staff held/used by Dionysus or cult followers of Dionysus; with the staff typically being topped with a pine cone as shown in my example. Nagidus in Greek, NAΓIΔEΩ, is seen in the right field. I enjoy this personification of Dionysus as compared to the later type we see on Thracian tetradrachms of Thasos a few centuries later The devices and characters imply a free-loving, partying, wine drinking, nature loving people; but with a sense of devotion to the Gods. Which could be a variable in the reasoning why we don't see much history of this specific group of pre-hellenistic Greeks; while everyone else was warring. This of course is a very loose opinion based off surface perception. The iridescent toning, perfect strike, decent detail, and all devices on flan made this piece a must have for my classical collection. I've enjoyed concentrating on classical and archaic coins in the last year. It seems to be where my passion really lies as I acquire more. CILICIA. Nagidus. Ca. 400-350 BC. AR stater (10.66 gm). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 5/5. Aphrodite, wearing turreted crown, seated left, holding phiale in right hand over garlanded altar, Cupid standing behind her holding wreath / Dionysus standing left, holding grape bunch, vine sprig and thyrsus, Z before feet, NAΓIΔEΩ. BMC Cilicia 12. - Michael
