Tiny Artemis Persica from Hierocaesarea in Lydia

An interesting little Roman provincial at a good price. The coin was issued by the local magistrate of Hierocaesarea, a town in Lydia about fifteen miles south of Thyatira (BMC Lydia (vol. 22) p. lvii). The town was originally called Hieracome after an ancient sanctuary of Artemis Persica and struck coins from the first century B.C. The town's name was subsequently changed to Hierocaesarea by Tiberius. Coinage in the name of Hierocaesarea (Quasi-autonomous and Imperial) ranges from the time of Nero to that of Severus Alexander.

Not unexpectedly -- because the town was built around a sanctuary to this goddess -- the coins of this city commonly feature Artemis Persica. Persic Artemis is depicted in ancient art as a winged female with a lion on either side of her (Cook AB, The Journal of Hellenic Studies, Vol. 15 (1895), p. 11). We know this is Artemis Persica because coins of the city frequently bear the inscription ΠΕΡΣΙΚΗ along with the bust of Artemis on the obverse (BMC Lydia nos. 1, 5-10).


Quasi-autononymous issue, time of Nero.
Roman provincial Æ 14.6 mm, 3.24 g, 6h.
Lydia, Hierocaesarea; Magistrate Capito, AD 54-68.
Obv: ЄΠΙ ΚΑΠΙΤѠΝΟC, draped bust of Artemis Persica, right, with bow and quiver at her back.
Rev: ΙЄΡΟ-ΚΑICΑΡ-ЄΩΝ, Artemis in short chiton, right, with one knee on back of stag, which she pulls down by the antlers.
Refs: RPC I 2391; BMC v.22, p.102, 3.

Let's see your coins of Hierocaesarea, coins of Persic Artemis, or anything else you feel is relevant!

 

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Great coin! I like the type and don't have one yet.


LYDIA, Hierocaesarea
AE17. 3.45g, 16.6mm. LYDIA, Hierocaesarea. Pseudo-autonomous, circa 1st century AD. SNG von Aulock 2955; SNG Cop 178. O: Draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver over shoulder. R: IEP[OKAICAP]EΩN, forepart of stag right.

 

HIEROCAESAREIA SEMI-AUTONOMOUS CIVIC ISSUE
AE15
OBVERSE: PERCIKH; draped bust of Artemis Persica right, with bow and quiver
REVERSE: IEROKAICAREWN, flaming altar
Struck at Hierocaesaria 117-138AD
2.66g, 15mm
BMC 7