Smyrna, Ionia; circa 2nd Century BC
AE [21 mm, 9.37 g, 12h]
Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right.
Rev: ΣΜΥΡΝΑΙΩΝ; The poet Homer seated left holding book and transverse staff.
BMC 87
Sardis, Lydia in Asia Minor, 2nd-1st Century BC
AE [16-17 mm, 4.00 g, 6h]
Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right within circle of dots
Rev: ΣΑΡΔI / ΑΝΩΝ; either side of club, within wreath.
References: SNG Cop #470-82, SG 4736
Much nicer coin in hand, most letters and monogram are legible.
Philadelphia, Lydia; Civic Issue, 100-14 BC
Obv: Head of Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy
Rev: ΦIΛAΔEΛ-ΦEωN; Divided by thyrsus within border of dots
Ref: BMC 17
Smyrna, Ionia; circa 2nd Century BC
AE [19 mm,7.77 g, 2h]
Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right.
Rev: ΣΜΥΡΝΑΙΩΝ; The poet Homer seated left holding book and transverse staff.
SG 4571 var., BMC 116
Sardis, Lydia in Asia Minor, 2nd-1st Century BC
AE [14-16 mm,3.61 g, 6h]
Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right within circle of dots
Rev: ΣΑΡΔI / ΑΝΩΝ; either side of club, within wreath.
References: SNG Cop #470-82, SG 4736
Tarsos, Cilicia, circa 164-27 BCE
AE [19-21 mm, 8.16 g, 12 h]
Obv: Turreted tyche facing right
Rev: Sandan standing right on horned, winged animal, within a pyramidal monument surmounted by an eagle, ΤΑΡΣΕΩΝ to right, monograms to left
References: SNG Lev 940 ff var
Antioch, Syria, semi-autonomous during reign of Augustus 27BCE-14 CE
AE [ 19.5 mm, 6.77 g, 12 h ], year 43 (12-13 CE)
Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Reverse: ANTIOXΕΩΝ ΕΠΙ ΣΙΛΑΝΟΥ; Ram running right looking at star behind, date ΓΜ below.
References: Butcher 57, BMC Galatia 63, RPC I 4268
Possibly commemorating the celestial event or “Heavenly Alignment” considered to be the “Star of Bethlehem”
Antioch, Syria, semi-autonomous during reign of Augustus 27BCE-14 CE
AE [18.5 mm, 6.47 g, 12 h ], year 42 (11-12 CE)
Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Reverse: ANTIOXΕΩΝ ΕΠΙ ΣΙΛΑΝΟΥ; Ram running right looking at star behind, date BΜ below.
References: Butcher 56, BMC Galatia 62, RPC I 4266
Possibly commemorating the celestial event or “Heavenly Alignment” considered to be the “Star of Bethlehem”
Antioch, Syria, semi-autonomous during reign of Augustus 27BCE-14 CE
AE [ 19 mm, 7.17 g, 12 h ], year 43 (12-13 CE)
Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Reverse: ANTIOXΕΩΝ ΕΠΙ ΣΙΛΑΝΟΥ; Ram running right looking at star behind, date ΓΜ below.
References: Butcher 57, BMC Galatia 63, RPC I 4268
Possibly commemorating the celestial event or “Heavenly Alignment” considered to be the “Star of Bethlehem”
Ephesus, Ionia in Asia Minor, 375-325 BCE
AE [11 mm, 1.25 g, 12 h]
Obverse: Female head left (maybe Artemis or city tyche)
Reverse: Ε-Φ either side of bee.
References: SNG von Aulock 1839; SNG Copenhagen 256; BMC 68
A beautiful tiny coin from the city of the Temple of Diana and site of one of the earliest Christian Churches in Asia Minor
