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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Anatolia| ▸ |Phrygia| ▸ |Laodicea ad Lycus||View Options:  |  |  |   

Ancient Greek Coins of Laodicea ad Lycus

Laodiceia ad Lycum was founded probably by Antiochus II Theos (261 - 46 B.C.), and named after his wife Laodice. The principal deity of the city was Laodicean Zeus or Zeus Aseis. "Aseis" may be linked to the Arabic "aziz" which means powerful and may indicate Syrian influence on the cult. Laodiceia's cosmopolitan population included many people of Syrian origin. There was also a large and prosperous Jewish community whose members had freedom of worship. Laodicea is one of the oldest homes of Christianity and the seat of one of the seven churches of the Apocalypse.

Laodicea ad Lycus, Phrygia, 56 - 54 B.C., Roman Proconsul and Imperator P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther

|Laodicea| |ad| |Lycus|, |Laodicea| |ad| |Lycus,| |Phrygia,| |56| |-| |54| |B.C.,| |Roman| |Proconsul| |and| |Imperator| |P.| |Cornelius| |Lentulus| |Spinther||cistophoric| |tetradrachm|
Publius Cornelius Lentulus, nicknamed Spinther because of his likeness to a popular actor of that name, came from an ancient Roman patrician family of the Cornelia gens. This coin was struck in his name as imperator and proconsul of Cilicia, c. 56 - 53 B.C. Although treated with great favor by Julius Caesar, Spinther supported Caesar's great rival Pompeius Magnus and the Optimates party. This eventually led to his political destruction and probably to his execution. His son joined Caesar's assassins, Brutus and Cassius.
SH70609. Silver cistophoric tetradrachm, BMC Phrygia p. 281, 17; SNG Cop 494, SNGvA -, EF, uneven strike with weak areas, weight 12.483 g, maximum diameter 27.5 mm, die axis 0o, Laodicea ad Lycus (near Denizli, Turkey) mint, magistrate Krathippos, 57 - 54 B.C.; obverse Cista mystica with half-open lid, from which a snake emerges, all within wreath of ivy with berries; reverse two snakes flanking bow in bow-case ornamented with an apluster, P LENTVLVS - P F / IMP above, ΛAO monogram left, winged kerykeion right, KΠATIΠΠOΣ below; ex Numismatik Lanz auction 157, lot 183; rare; SOLD


Marcus Aurelius, 7 March 161 - 17 March 180 A.D., Laodiceia ad Lycum, Phrygia, in Alliance with Smyrna, Ionia

|Laodicea| |ad| |Lycus|, |Marcus| |Aurelius,| |7| |March| |161| |-| |17| |March| |180| |A.D.,| |Laodiceia| |ad| |Lycum,| |Phrygia,| |in| |Alliance| |with| |Smyrna,| |Ionia||medallion|
This alliance medallion celebrates the Harmony between Laodicea and Smyrna. Such alliances between cities inside of the Roman Empire were generally political or economic.
RB110374. Bronze medallion, BMC Phrygia p. 326, 275; SNGvA -; SNG Cop -; SNG Mün -; SNG Tüb -, F, well centered; green, red, brown and black dark patina; old cleaning marks, weight 26.314 g, maximum diameter 39.3 mm, die axis 180o, Laodicea ad Lycum (near Denizli, Turkey) mint, 7 Mar 161 - 17 Mar 180; obverse AV KAI M AVP - ANTONINOC·, laureate head right; reverse ΛAOΔIKEO-N - C-MYPNAION, Zeus Laodikeos standing half left, head left, wearing long chiton and himation, eagle in right hand scepter in left hand, flanked by the two Nemeses of Smyrna facing inward toward Nemeses, both clad in long chiton and peplos, plucking chiton from breast; ·OMONOIA· in exergue; this coin is the only specimen of the type on Coin Archives, huge 39 mm bronze!, ex Harlan Berk sale 216 (27 Jul 2021), lot 460; ex CNG sale 61 (23 Sep 2002), lot 1049; extremely rare; SOLD


Seleukid Kingdom, Antiochus III the Great, c. 223 - 187 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Antiochus| |III| |the| |Great,| |c.| |223| |-| |187| |B.C.||tetradrachm|
This type was traditionally attributed to the Sardes mint, but Houghton and Lorber have reattributed it to Phrygia, probably Laodicea on the Lycus.
GY114601. Silver tetradrachm, Houghton-Lorber I 998(1); HGC 9 447i (R2); BMC Seleucids p. 25, 5 corr. (dot border), Choice VF, well centered and struck, weight 28.2 g, maximum diameter 17.1 mm, die axis 0o, Phrygia, probably Laodicea on the Lycus mint, series 3, c. 203 - 187 B.C.; obverse Antiochos' diademed head right, youthful features, break in bangs indicating incipient baldness at temple, horn (lock of hair) over ear, one diadem waiving upward, fillet border; reverse Apollo Delphios naked seated left on omphalos, examining arrow in right hand, resting left hand on grounded bow behind, BAΣIΛEΩΣ (Greek: king) downward on right, ANT-IOXOY downward on left divided by arrow, (control monogram) outer left; ex Pars Coins; very rare; SOLD


Hadrian, 11 August 117 - 10 July 138 A.D., Laodicea, Province of Asia

|Laodicea| |ad| |Lycus|, |Hadrian,| |11| |August| |117| |-| |10| |July| |138| |A.D.,| |Laodicea,| |Province| |of| |Asia||cistophoric| |tetradrachm|
Like many of the cistophoric tetradrachms of Hadrian, this coin is overstruck on a coin of Augustus.
RS42470. Silver cistophoric tetradrachm, RIC II 497 var., RSC II 275 var., BMCRE 1066 var., SRCV I 3441 var., Metcalf Cistophori 56 var. (all var. with bare head right), aVF, overstruck, weight 10.129 g, maximum diameter 27.2 mm, die axis 195o, Laodicea ad Lycus (near Denizli, Turkey) mint, 129 - 132 A.D.; obverse HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P, bare-headed draped bust right; reverse COS III, Zeus Laodiceus standing left, draped to the feet, eagle in right hand, scepter in left hand; very rare; SOLD


Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D.

|Caracalla|, |Caracalla,| |28| |January| |198| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.||denarius|
Virtus (courage, valor) is depicted as a helmeted soldier, often a female, in armor holding a spear, parazonium, victory or a shield. Virtus and Mars can usually be distinguished since Mars is usually shown nude and Virtus is always shown clothed.
RS94477. Silver denarius, RSC III 664b, RIC IV 354 (S) var. (bust), BMCRE p. 294, 710 var. (same); Hunter III -, SRCV II -, VF, excellent bust (scarce type unique to Laodicea), well centered, some legend weak, light marks, scrape at obv. 2:30, weight 3.265 g, maximum diameter 19.3 mm, die axis 180o, Laodicea ad Mare (Latakia, Syria) mint, 199 A.D.; obverse ANTONINVS AVGVSTVS, laureate and cuirassed boy's bust right, slight drapery (paludamentum) on far shoulder, breastplate decorated with small facing head of medusa (gorgoneion); reverse VIRT AVGG (valor of the two emperors), Virtus standing half-left, wearing crested helmet and military garb, Victory on globe holding palm frond and offering wreath in Virtus' right hand, inverted spear in left hand; from an Israeli collection, ex Bertolami Fine Arts (UK); very scarce bust; SOLD


Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Laodicea ad Lycus, Phrygia

|Laodicea| |ad| |Lycus|, |Nero,| |13| |October| |54| |-| |9| |June| |68| |A.D.,| |Laodicea| |ad| |Lycus,| |Phrygia||AE| |28|
RPC notes that the reverse legend is hard to interpret and that perhaps Anto Zenon, son of Zenon helped closing a dispute between Laodicea and Smyrna.
RP82821. Leaded bronze AE 28, RPC I 2928; BMC Phrygia p. 325, 265 ff.; SNG Cop 614, VF/aVF, weight 11.448 g, maximum diameter 28.3 mm, die axis 0o, Laodicea ad Lycus (near Denizli, Turkey) mint, obverse NEPΩN ΣEBAΣTOΣ, laureate head right; reverse ANTΩ ZHNΩNOΣ ZHNΩN YIOΣ ΛAOΔIKEΩN ZMYPNAIΩN OMHPOΣ, facing Demoi of Laodicea and Smyrna, clasping hands and holding scepters; SOLD


Antoninus Pius, August 138 - 7 March 161 A.D., Laodicea ad Lycus, Phrygia

|Laodicea| |ad| |Lycus|, |Antoninus| |Pius,| |August| |138| |-| |7| |March| |161| |A.D.,| |Laodicea| |ad| |Lycus,| |Phrygia||AE| |25|
Herodotus describes the following story relevant to the olive wreath. Xerxes was interrogating some Arcadians after the Battle of Thermopylae. Asked why there were so few Greek men defending the Thermopylae, they answered, "All other men are participating in the Olympic Games." And when asked "What is the prize for the winner?", "An olive-wreath" came the answer. Then Tigranes, one of his generals uttered a most noble saying: "Good heavens! Mardonius, what kind of men are these against whom you have brought us to fight? Men who do not compete for possessions, but for honor."
RP82824. Bronze AE 25, BMC Phrygia p. 311, 202; SNG Munchen 388; SNG Cop -; SNGvA -, Choice aVF, weight 10.563 g, maximum diameter 25.2 mm, die axis 0o, Laodicea ad Lycus (near Denizli, Turkey) mint, obverse AY KAI TI ANTI AΔP ANTΩNEINOC, laureate head right; reverse ΠO AIΛIOC ΔIONYCIOC ΛAOΔIKΕΩN in five lines within olive wreath with berries; SOLD


Tiberius, 19 August 14 - 16 March 37 A.D., Laodicea ad Lycus, Phrygia

|Laodicea| |ad| |Lycus|, |Tiberius,| |19| |August| |14| |-| |16| |March| |37| |A.D.,| |Laodicea| |ad| |Lycus,| |Phrygia||AE| |18|
BMC assigns this type to Augustus. RPC I assigns it to Tiberius but notes the difficulty in determining if it is a coin of Augustus or Tiberius. It certainly looks like Augustus, but many portraits of Tiberius intentionally exaggerate his resemblance to Augustus. In any case, it is a beautiful portrait in fine Greek style. We know the KOP monogram stands for KORNHLIOS because it is spelled out in full on coins of another Dioscourides under Domitian.
RP58876. Bronze AE 18, RPC I 2906; SNG Cop 547; BMC Phrygia p. 301, 141 (Augustus), VF, weight 6.116 g, maximum diameter 17.9 mm, die axis 0o, Laodicea ad Lycus (near Denizli, Turkey) mint, obverse ΣEBAΣTOΣ, bare head right; reverse ΔIOΣKOYPIΔHΣ ΛAOΔIKEΩN, Zeus Laodicea standing left with eagle and staff, KOP monogram outer right; SOLD


Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Laodicea ad Lycus, Phrygia

|Laodicea| |ad| |Lycus|, |Nero,| |13| |October| |54| |-| |9| |June| |68| |A.D.,| |Laodicea| |ad| |Lycus,| |Phrygia||AE| |22|
Antiochus the Great transported 2,000 Jewish families to Phrygia from Babylonia. Many of Laodicea's inhabitants were Jews. Cicero records that Flaccus confiscated 9 kg of gold which was being sent to Jerusalem for the Temple (Pro Flacco 28-68). During the Roman period Laodicea was the chief city of a Roman conventus, which comprised twenty-four cities besides itself.
GB62565. Bronze AE 22, RPC I 2917, SNG Cop 562, BMC Phrygia 14, VF, weight 7.914 g, maximum diameter 21.7 mm, die axis 0o, Laodicea ad Lycus (near Denizli, Turkey) mint, obverse NEPΩN KAIΣAP, bare-headed and draped bust right; reverse ΓAIOY ΠOΣTOMOY ΛAOΔIKEΩN, Zeus Laodiceus standing left, eagle in right hand, scepter in left hand, B in wreath left; nice patina, bold, high-relief; SOLD


Tiberius, 19 August 14 - 16 March 37 A.D., Laodicea ad Lycus, Phrygia

|Laodicea| |ad| |Lycus|, |Tiberius,| |19| |August| |14| |-| |16| |March| |37| |A.D.,| |Laodicea| |ad| |Lycus,| |Phrygia||AE| |20|
BMC Phrygia and older references assign this type to Augustus. RPC I assigns it to Tiberius but notes the difficulty in determining if it is a coin of Augustus or Tiberius. It certainly looks like Augustus, but many portraits of Tiberius intentionally exaggerate his resemblance to Augustus.
RP111927. Leaded bronze AE 20, RPC I 2901; SNG Cop 550; BMC Phrygia p. 301, 138; Weber 7137; AMC I 1402; Waddington 6264; SNG Lewis 1595, VF, dark patina, light earthen deposits, scratches (some flan adjustment marks), weight 4.773 g, maximum diameter 19.4 mm, die axis 315o, Laodicea ad Lycus (near Denizli, Turkey) mint, obverse ΣEBAΣTOΣ, bare head right; reverse Zeus Laodiceus standing facing, head left, eagle in extended right hand, staff in left hand, star over pileus flanking both left and right; ΛAOΔIKEΩN downward in left; ΠYΘHΣ / ΠYΘOY (Pythes, son of Pythes [magistrate]) in two downward lines on the right; from the Michael Arslan Collection; SOLD




  




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REFERENCES

Babelon, E. Traité des Monnaies Grecques et Romaines. (Paris, 1901-1932).
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Burnett, A., M. Amandry, et al. Roman Provincial Coinage. (1992 - ).
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Roman Provincial Coinage Online - http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/
Sear, D. Greek Coins and Their Values, Vol. 2: Asia and Africa. (London, 1979).
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Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain XII, The Hunterian Museum, Univ. of Glasgow, Part 1: Roman Provincial Coins: Spain-Kingdoms of Asia Minor. (Oxford, 2004).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Österreich, Sammlung Leypold, Kleinasiatische Münzen der Kaiserzeit, Vol. II: Phrygia-Commagene. (Vienna, 2004).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Russia, State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts: Coins of the Black Sea Region. (Leuven, Belgium, 2011).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Turkey 5: Tire Museum (Izmir), Vol. 1: Roman Provincial Coins From Ionia, Lydia, Phrygia, etc. (Istanbul, 2011).

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