| Province |
Cilicia |
| City |
Hieropolis- Castabala |
| Size (mm) |
21 |
| Weight (g) |
8.91 |
| Die Axis |
180 |
| Tariff |
2 assaria |
| Governor |
- |
| Ob. Leg. |
M OΠEΛΛI ANT[ ] |
| Ob. Desc. |
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right - seen from behind |
| Meaning |
Marcus Opellius Antonius |
| Rev. Leg. |
IEROPO KACT ABAΛ / ICPOC |
Rev. Desc. |
Prize basket (or crown) between two lit torches |
Meaning |
(Coin) of the residents of Hieropolis- Castabala – Blessings on the games |
References; |
Collection; SNG France 2, 2242; Lindgren I 1515 (this coin), ANS 1970.142.715; IMHOOF ZFN 1883 S278,44; ISEGRIM 40315 |
Notes: |
The prize basket (sometimes referred to as a crown) was awarded to the victors of athletic or cultural contests at the religious games Greek cities loved to hold. This basket may not have had a bottom and may have been symbolic of victory at a named games. It is probable that the symbolism of the lit torch has passed down to the present day Olympic Games. The type is also thought to be associated with a festival of the fire walking cult of Artemis Perasia (Dapont Sommer, Robert L. - La deesse de Hierapolis-Castabala(1964)
This is also an example of an alliance coin. This is a purely Asia Minor and Thracian activity where ‘rival’ cities who had settled disputes or had decided to unite for other reasons issued a combined currency. Most common in the late second and third centuries some 87 cities were involved in issuing this type of currency.
|
| Province |
Cilicia |
| City |
Hieropolis- Castabala |
| Size (mm) |
21 |
| Weight (g) |
9.62 |
| Die Axis |
- |
| Tariff |
2 assaria |
| Governor |
- |
| Ob. Leg. |
M OΠEΛΛI ANT[ ] |
| Ob. Desc. |
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right - seen from behind |
| Meaning |
Marcus Opellius Antonius |
| Rev. Leg. |
ICPO-ΠO KACT ABAΛ / ICPOC |
Rev. Desc. |
Prize basket (or crown) between two lit torches |
Meaning |
(Coin) of the residents of Hieropolis- Castabala – Blessings on the games |
References; |
SNG France 2, 2242 (same dies); Lindgren I 1515; ANS 1970.142.715; IMHOOF ZFN 1883 S278,44; ISEGRIM 40315; CNG 153 No. 167 (illustrated with permission) |
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