I've mentioned a few times in posts this year, that my collecting took a side-trip to Asia Minor or the Anatolian peninsula. Anatolia a non-specific description from Greek Ἀνατολή, meaning "The East", or the region east of Greece. Here's a map of my Anatolian coins. While most of these coins have been posted here before, it is satisfying to see them organized together. For more information on these coins, I have posted a note here. I will also add this bonus coin from Cilicia 150-50 BC to make up for including a silver coin from this region in the map above. Cilicia, Seleukeia ad Kalykadnon, AE, circa 150-50 BC Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right, torch below chin, monograms behind head Rev: ΣΕΛΕΥΚΕΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΩΙ ΚΑΛΥΚΑΔΝΩΙ, Nike advancing left, holding branch; ΔH under monogram to left Size: 10.22g, 22mm Post your coins of Asia Minor, or anything else you find interesting or entertaining.
That's a broad category and it is a great choice for a specialty collection! It certainly kept Henry Clay Lindgren busy his whole life. Three of the coins chosen for my top 10 list this year are from Asia Minor: Philip II as Caesar, AD 244-247. Roman provincial Æ 25.2 mm, 7.72 g, 6 h. Phrygia, Laodicea ad Lycum, Sardis Workshop, AD 244-247. Obv: •Μ•ΙΟVΛΙ••ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟϹ•Κ•, bare headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip II, right, seen from front. Rev: ΛΑΟΔΙΚЄ|ΩΝ ΝЄ|ΩΚΟΡΩΝ, river Caprus as boar and river Lycus as wolf seated back to back, heads facing each other. Refs: BMC 25.324,260 (same rev. die); RG 6326 (same obv. die); RPC VIII unassigned, ID 20777; SNG Cop 607; SNG Leypold 1678. Gordian III, AD 238-244. Roman Provincial Æ 35 mm, 26.72 g, 6 h. Pisidia, Antioch, AD 238-244. Obv: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III, r., seen from rear. Rev: COL CAES ANTIOCH, S-R, Mên standing r., wearing Phrygian cap, foot on bucranium, holding scepter and Victory (standing r., on globe, holding trophy), resting elbow on column; behind his shoulders, crescent; to l., rooster standing, l. Refs: RPC VII.2, — (unassigned; ID 3431); Krzyżanowska XXII/94; BMC xix.187, 70. Troas, Sigeion, c. 335 BC. Greek Æ 12.2 mm, 2.37 g, 5 h. Obv: Head of Athena facing slightly right, wearing triple crested helmet and necklace. Rev: ΣΙΓΕ, owl standing right, head facing; crescent to left. Refs: BMC 17.86,7-10; SNG von Aulock 7637; SNG Ashmolean 1214–6; SNG Copenhagen 496–8; Sear 4145.
Getting this west coast city represented here: Ionia. Ephesos. Hadrian AD 117-138. Bronze Æ. 21 mm., 5.89 g. Laureate head right. / Statue of Artemis Ephesia within tetrastyle temple.
One of my favorite sub-sets within Greek coinage is the satrapal coinage of Cilicia under Achaemenid authority; not quite on the level of Sicily, but at times a close second. All obols, about 9-10mm coins! Bust of Persian king (Artaxerxes III?) / Pegasus Unknown Satrap & wife or goddess Unknown Satrap / wife or goddess Athena / Tyche? Herakles / Aphrodite Facing Herakles / Aphrodite? This one is of the great general Datames, with his Aramaic name TRKMW, Tarkumuwa
Lindgren & Varbanov have both been useful tour guides this year. Great to see Troas, and Pisidia (I think I've already expressed envy of that reverse), @Roman Collector, and Ionia, @Carl Wilmont, which are missing. @Finn235 love the Cilician silver collection! Here's another missing from the map: Lycoania More on this coin in "Perseus, St. Paul, and Antoninus Pius" Lykaonia, Iconium, Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161, Bronze Æ Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Antoninus Pius right. Rev: COL ICO, helmeted and draped bust of Athena right Size: 17.6mm, 3.58g, 12h Ref:RPC IV online 7259; Lindgren 1378
A couple from Mytilene. Lesbos, Mytilene. Antoninus Pius AE18 Obv: ΑVΤ ΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ ΑΝΤΩΝƐΙΝ[ΟС?] / Laureate head of Antoninus Pius, r. Rev: ΜVΤΙΛΗΝΑΙΩΝ / female figure (Aphrodite?) standing, facing, head, l., holding patera and transverse sceptre. RPC IV, 2627 Lesbos, Mytilene. Hemidrachm (Circa 350-250 BC). Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right. Rev: MY / T-I. Lyre.
TROAS Troas Tenedos late 5th-early 4th C BCE AR Obol 8mm 0.60g Janiform Hera-Zeus - Labrys within incus sq RARE SNG Ash 1235 HGC 6 387 TROAS Neandria AR Obol 4thC BCE 0.56g 8mm Laur hd Apollo r - NEA N Ram stdng right within incuse sq SNG Cop 446 Troas Birytis 350-300 BCE Æ 9mm1.21g Hd Kabeiros L pileos - two stars above Club within wreath SNG Cop 249 Left Breakthrough Discovery: Karahan Tepe is Older Than Göbekli Tepe https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/karahan-tepe-0014605
Great overview @Sulla80! I really enjoy your write ups about mints from Asia Minor. Asia Minor has a lot of history. Here some selected pieces from Asia Minor: Iconion, Lycaonia. Bronze AE, 1st Century B.C. Obverse: Bust of Perseus right, wearing winged and griffin-crested helmet, harpa and head of Medusa over left shoulder. Reverse: Zeus seated left, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, thunderbolt in extended right hand, long scepter vertical in left hand, ЄIKONIЄΩN downward on right. Reference: vA Lykaoniens 195, SNG BnF 2270 corr. (same rev. die), SNG Tüb 4512, SNG Cop 2 var. (magistrate), SNGvA 5384 var. (same). 4.61;19mm Caria, Rhodos. AR Diobol, circa 275-250 B.C. Obverse: Radiate head of Helios right. Reverse: P-O Two rose buds; above, Phrygian helmet. Reference: Ashton series 3, 78-79. Karl 458-460. SNG Copenhagen 744. SNG Keckman 519-522. SNG Munich 589. 0.96g; 10mm Kings of Galatia. Amyntas. AE Bronze. 39-25 BC. Obverse: Head of bearded Herakles to right with club over his shoulder; behind E, C. Reverse: Lion walking to right with open jaws; B above, monogram of Amyntas in the exergue. Reference: SNG France 2378. RPC I 3505. 12.34g Ionia. Phokaia. AR Diobol, circa 521-478 B.C. Obverse: Head of a nymph to left, wearing sakkos adorned with a central band and circular earring. Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square. Reference: Klein 452. SNG Copenhagen 389-94. SNG Kayhan 522. 1.32g; 10mm Ephesos, Ionia. AR Drachm, ca. 500-420 B.C. Obverse: Bee with curved wings, EΦ-[EΣION] Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square Reference: SNG Kayhan 140 3,20g; 14mm Pontos, Chabacta. AE. Time of Mithradates VI Eupator, circa 85-65 B.C. Obverse: Head of Perseus to right, wearing Phrygian helmet. Reverse: XABAKTΩN Pegasos grazing left; to left, monogram. Reference: HGC 7, 261. SNG BM Black Sea 1258-1259. 13.83g; 22mm
Wildwinds coin...in my collection (and from Anatolia) Claudius, AE19 of Attalea, Pamphylia. 41.54 AD. 4.44 gr. Bare head of Claudius left / ATTAΛEωN, helmeted head of Athena right wearing crested Corinthian helmet. RPC I 3366; BMC 13; Baydur 157; Istanbul 7726. https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/claudius/RPC_3366.jpg