Four coins from the CCCRH collection have recently been added to the highly-regarded online database, Roman Provincial Coinage (RPC Online). This post has brief notes on each of the 4 coins that were identified by CCCRH Research Associate, Sebastian Harris. Sebastian arranged for them to be added to the RPC listing and has also prepared the following notes.
Attaleia (Pamphylia), AE20, Attaleia, 161–180 CE
CCCRH recently acquired a bronze coin minted at Attaleia, during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161–180 CE), previously unpublished in Roman Provincial Coins although cited in some offline reference works. It depicts a diademed bust of Poseidon holding a trident on the obverse, and Nike with the Greek inscription ATTAΛEWN, meaning “of the people of Attaleia,” on the reverse.
Founded by Attalus II of Pergamon in c. 150 BCE, Attaleia was a prominent port-city in what was the Kingdom of Pergamon; a remnant of the larger Seleucid Empire, established by one of Alexander the Great’s successors. Located on the coast of Western Asia Minor, the city originally served as the main naval centre for Attalus’ forces before it became part of the Roman Empire after Attalus’ nephew gave it over to the Romans in 133 BCE. It eventually became the capital of the Roman province of Lycia-Pamphylia and was a significant port for the Byzantine Empire and Crusader Kingdoms.
As one might expect from the city’s proximity to the sea and long history, many coins from Attaleia feature maritime imagery and allusions to the local cults. Poseidon is depicted as a nautical deity, as a protector of sea towns. On the other hand, Nike is a reference to the local cult of Athena Nikephoros (‘bringer of victory’), established under Attalus I. In fact, there was a magnificent two-story temple and festival dedicated to Athena, known as the Nikephoria. It even became the “most important religious celebration in Pergamum in the 2nd century BC,” which further cemented the local worship of the victory goddess.
The coin is available in RPC Online as RPC IV.3, 25166/1 (https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/465220) and in the CCCRH Database under Catalogue # 3136 (https://tinyurl.com/2jczwkuc).
References
Allen, R.E. 1983. The Attalid Kingdom: A Constitutional History, Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Fant, C.E, and Reddish, M.G. 2003. ‘Attalia,’ in A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 167-172.
Hill, G.F. 1987. A Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum, Lycia, Pamphylia, and Pisidia, London: The Trustees of the British Museum.
Smith, W. 1854. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, illustrated by numerous engravings on wood, London: John Murray.
Commodus (177–192 CE), AE20, Alexandria Troas, c. 184–190 CE
Several years ago, the Foundation acquired an unpublished bronze coin minted at Alexandria Troas, during the sole reign of Commodus (180–192 CE). It depicts a bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust of Commodus with the legend COMMODVS ANTONINVS AV (Commodus Antoninus Augustus). On the reverse, it illustrates a cult statue of Apollo Smintheus with a cypress tree and altar, combined with the Latin inscription COL AVG TROAD (“of the Augustan Colony of Troas”).
Alexandria Troas was originally a town called Sigeia, which was enlarged by Antigonus I and later Lysimachus, who named it Alexandria Troas after Alexander the Great in 301 BCE. It served as Rome’s main naval port in north-western Asia Minor during the Roman-Seleucid War (192–188 BCE), and because of their support, Alexandria Troas became an ‘independent’ city. When Augustus was named emperor, he renamed the city to “the Augustan Colony of Troas,” and this remained the city’s name well into the fourth and fifth centuries CE. It is from the time of Commodus (likely during his tour of the Eastern Provinces in 176 CE) until the reign of Gallienus (253–266 CE), that almost all emperors were represented on the city’s coins, a change that had broken the previous period of minimal coins.
Typical of Roman Provincial Coinage, the cult statue of Apollo depicted on the coin’s obverse is the result of a nearby town’s union. Located approximately 30 kilometres south of Alexandria Troas, Hamaxitus was home to the Temple of Apollo Smintheus (“Lord of Mice”); mice were symbolic of Apollo as the god of disease. When the town merged with the larger Alexandria Troas in the second century BC, the local cult grew, and Alexandria began minting coins with symbols related to Apollo Smintheus. This Apollo was depicted in a himation (garment), with a quiver on his shoulder, holding a patera (offering bowl) and bow. The other symbols paired with the statue were the cypress tree (the sacred grove which stood about the temple) and altar (a component of the statue group according to Aelian).
The coin is available in RPC Online as RPC IV.2, 25163/1 (https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/465441) and in the CCCRH Database under Catalogue # 589 (https://tinyurl.com/yc7937e9).
References
Bellinger, A.R. 1958. ‘The Late Bronze of Alexandria Troas,’ ANS Museum Notes 8: 25-53. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43573814.
Bresson, A. 2007. ‘Hamaxitos en Troade,’ in J. Dalaison, ed. Espaces et pouvoirs dans l’Antqiuité de l’Anatolie à la Gaule, Hommages à Bernard Rémy, Grenoble: CRHIPA, 139-158.
Vailhé, S. 1913. ‘Troas,’ in C.G. Herbermann, E.A. Pace, C.B. Pallen, T.J. Shahan and J.J. Wynne, eds. The Catholic Enyclopedia, Volume 15: Tournely–Zwirner, New York: The Encyclopedia Press, 63.
Wroth, W.W. 1894. A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Troas, Aeolis and Lesbos, London: The Trustees of the British Museum.
Volusian (251–253 CE), AE29, Colossae, 251–253 CE
Six years ago, CCCRH acquired a previously unpublished bronze coin minted at Colossae, from the rule of Trebonianus Gallus (251–253 CE). It depicts a laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Volusian with the legend Γ Ο Α Γ ΟΟΥΟΛΟΥϹϹΙΑΝΟϹ Ϲ (Gaius Vibius Afinius Gallus Veldumnianus Volusianus Augustus) on the obverse. On the reverse, it illustrates a cult statue of Artemis of Ephesus with two stags, combined with magistrate’s name and the Greek inscription ΚΟΛΟϹϹΗΝΩΝ (“of the Colossians”)
Considered a “great city in Phrygia” by Herodotus, Colossae had lost its importance to the surrounding cities during the late Hellenistic and early Roman period. During the lifetime of Paul this would have been a minor settlement, and especially so after the earthquakes that devastated the area in the early 60s of the Common Era. Colossae would eventually regain its importance as a Roman city when Emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 CE) visited it during his own travels, as evidenced by the mass coinage that followed with the regular elections of stephanophoroi (“crown-bearers”). Interestingly, although this coin was minted almost 200 years after the death of Paul, the legend on the reverse of the coin preserves a name that also occurs in the NT letters attributed to Paul: Epaphras (cf Col 1:7; 4:12; and Phlm 23).
A stephanophoros was “a title given to magistrates in some Greek cities who had been granted the honour of being allowed to wear a wreath or garland on public occasions.” They were often one of the leading citizens who would finance the religious festivals and games in provincial Greek cities. The “crown-bearer” written on this coin is ΑΥ ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟϹΕΠΑΦΡΑ (Aurelius Marcianus, [son of] Epaphras), who lived during the time of Trebonianus Gallus. The reason for Marcianus depicting the cult statue of Artemis Ephesia on the reverse is two-fold; it commemorates a festival or games honouring Artemis that he financed, and it promotes the cult of Artemis by identifying the Artemis worshipped at Colossae with the Artemis worshipped at Ephesus (the main cult centre in Asia Minor).
The coin is available in RPC Online as RPC IX, 789B/1 (https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/464312) and in the CCCRH Database under Catalogue # 2056 (https://tinyurl.com/mpcsdd47).
References
Cadwallader, A. 2015. ‘Assessing the Potential of Archaeological Discoveries for the Interpretation of New Testament Texts: The Case of a Gladiator Fragment from Colossae and the Letter to the Colossians,’ in J.R. Harrison and L.L. Welborn, eds. The First Urban Churches 1: Methodological Foundations, Atlanta: SBL Press, 41-66
Fant, C.E, and Reddish, M.G. 2003. ‘Colossae,’ in A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 173-174.
Head, B. 1906. A Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum, Phrygia, London: The Trustees of the British Museum.
Lewis, P.E. May 2016. ‘A New Coin of Colossae,’ The Australasian Coin & Banknote Magazine, Accessed 11thNovember 2023, https://tinyurl.com/mryukjm3.
Yamauchi, E.M. 1980. New Testament Cities in Western Asia Minor, Grand Rapids: Baker.
Gallienus (253–268 CE), AE26, Ephesus, 253–260 CE
The Foundation recently acquired an unpublished bronze coin minted at Ephesus, from the joint rule of Valerian and Gallienus (253–260 CE). It depicts a laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gallienus with the legend AYT ΠΟ ΛIKIN ΓΑΛΛΙΗΝΟС (Imperator Publius Licinius Gallienus) on the obverse. On the reverse, it illustrates Artemis carrying a long torch, combined with the city’s name and its honorific title, EΦECIΩN Δ NEΩKOΡΩN (“of the Ephesians, four-time neokoros”).
Artemis had been worshipped in Ephesus since the Bronze Age and by many other cities “who also held her in honour above all the gods.” The Ephesian Artemis was originally a mix of several local goddesses native to Anatolia (Asia Minor), who later became associated with the Greek Artemis and Roman Diana. Not only was Ephesus a significant cult centre for Artemis, but it was also the sight of the famous Temple of Artemis (Artemision), which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. On the coin’s reverse, the torch identifies her as the Greek Artemis Phosphoros (“Bringer of Light”). This coin type was introduced as a silver denarius under Hadrian (117–138 CE) and was associated with Ephesus during the reign of Severus Alexander (222–235 CE), when the city was promoted to a regional centre for the imperial cult for the third time (neokoros).
Neokoros (‘temple-sweeper’) was a sacred title, often related to the custody of a temple, dedicated to the imperial cult (worship of the emperor and his family). However, Ephesus was unique. As seen in this coin, Ephesus was four-time neokoros, the most of any Greek city (Δ was the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet), but it was dedicated three times to the emperor—Domitian, Hadrian, and Valerian—and once to the Ephesian Artemis. The city had originally wanted to house a temple for the emperors Augustus and Tiberius but was ruled out of the competition “because it was too totally devoted to its chief goddess Artemis.” However, as time passed, they were honoured with the title and, because of their devotion to Artemis and her importance in the region, they received a rare neokoros for Artemis.
The coin is available in RPC Online as RPC ID 89530 (https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/464329) and in the CCCRH Database under Catalogue # 2557 (https://tinyurl.com/3kejsvy2).
References
Burrell, B. 2004. ‘Ephesos in Ionia (Nero),’ in Neokoroi: Greek Cities and Roman Emperors, Leiden: Brill, 86-99.
Harris, S.L. 2023. ‘Ancient Silver Coinage of Ephesus: The Changing ‘Faces’ of Classical and Hellenistic Coinage,’Ancient Greek & Roman Archaeology & Material Culture eJournal, http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4611571.
Macquarie University. n.d. Ephesus as temple-warden. Accessed 23th November 2023, https://tinyurl.com/fk2vur7j.
Pick, B. 1906. ‘Die neokorien von Ephesos,’ in J. Evans, H.H. Howorth, H.A. Grueber, W.W. Wroth and G.F. Hill, eds. Corolla Numismatica: Numismatic Essays in Honor of Barclay V. Head, London: Oxford University Press, 234-244.