Got this coin for just $15 from the Harlan Berk cheap box at the April Central States show. I liked it because it has a bright copper color and a beautiful Apollo head. After much of research (I learned a lot of new things, that's why I love researching coins), I finally found out that it is from Alabanda, Caria. Alabanda takes its name from the compounded words “Ala” and “Banda”, meaning horse and victory in the Carian language. The city had been famed for its marbles used in production of crystal, hemp and its pleasure-seeking citizens. We learn from Stephanos of Byzantium that the city had been given this name by Kar, the mythological king, who named his son “Alabandos” after a victory he won with his cavalry army and the city was named after the prince. Strabon, the great geographer and traveler describes Alabanda as one of the three important cities in the hinterland, and says that the inhabitants of Alabanda were rich and lived in luxury: “Alabanda is also situated at the foot of hills, two hills that are joined together in such a way that they present the appearance of an ass laden with panniers. And indeed Apollonius Malacus, in ridiculing the city both in regard to this and in regard to the large number of scorpions there, said that it was an ‘ass laden with panniers of scorpions.’ Both this city and Mylasa are full of these creatures, and so is the whole of the mountainous country between them. Alabanda is a city of people who live in luxury and debauchery, containing many girls who play the harp. Alabandians worthy of mention are two orators, brothers, I mean Menecles, whom I mentioned a little above, and Hierocles, and also Apollonius and Molon, who changed their abode to Rhodes.” Strabo, Geography, Book XIV, Chapter 2, 26 https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Strabo/14B*.html The mountains Strabo is referring to are the Latmos mountains running in an east–west direction along the north shore of the former Latmian Gulf on the coast of Caria, which became part of Hellenized Ionia when Alabanda fell into oblivion throughout the expedition of Alexander the Great. The name comes up again at the end of 3rd century BC. This time the city was known as Antiokheia of the Khrysaorens. By a regulation passed by the Amphiktyon Council of Delphi towards the end of 3rd century BC, it is recorded that an Antiokheia Consul guided by an oracle visited Delphi and glorified Antiochus for protecting democracy and peace in the city. The council granted immunity and autonomy to the city in accordance to the request by the King. Thus, the autonomous state of the city was recognized by the council and the city was accepted to be holy for Zeus Khrysareos and Apollo Isotimos. In fact, Alabanda had been colonized by the Seleucid kings in later eras and the majority of the population were Greeks. Zeus Khrysareos is well known, but Apollo Isotimos is indigenous to Alabanda. Isotimos means “at equal value”, which may mean that since Apollo is a special god for Seleukos, he was adopted in Alabanda as a compliment to the Seleucids and was elevated to the equal status of Zeus. At the same time, it is possible that this god was a local god and was later elevated to equal status of the Greek god. Granting of immunity by the Greeks was an important event because of the protection from Hellenistic raids. However, this was not enough to protect Alabanda; the immunity was short lived and the city was raided by the Macedonian King Philippos V who in defense of the raid on the city, had simply said that his soldiers had needed food supplies. The Seleucid hegemony in Karia was over in 190 BC and Antiokheia was once more named Alabanda. According to the treaty signed in Apamea following the war, Lykia and Karia were handed over to Rhodes and naturally, Alabanda was included. It is common knowledge that valuable coins that had been stolen from the city are offered for sale on the internet! Quoted from http://dstercume.blogspot.com/2010/03/alabanda-and-alinda-two-vainglorious.html AE 20, Caria, Alabanda, after 189 BC, ca. 133 100 BC 18.2 x 20 mm, 4.627 g SNG Copenhagen 4; SNG von Aulock 2388. BMC 18.3.15; Sear 4770 Obv.: Laureate head of Apollo right Rev.: AΛABAN-ΔEΩN, Lyre Please, share your coins from Alabanda
It's a very interesting writeup! I remember what fun I had going through the 1990's pick bins (IIRC, there were three tiers) at HJB HQ. My most expensive coin also came from HJB.
