Uncertain coinage of Aphrodisias Staters Silver fractions

Uncertain coinage of Aphrodisias

It is not clear whether any coins minted in the pre-Hellenistic period can be attributed to Aphrodisias. The staters with Aphrodite seated on a throne flanked by two sphinxes on the obverse and Athena on the reverse (Type 1) could perhaps come from this city, but this attribution is not unanimously accepted. Sometimes these coins are attributed to Nagidos because of their similarity to the staters minted under the satrap Pharnabazus (see Nagidos, Type 2.1). Against this, however, is the fact that all Nagidos staters and third staters bear some form of the city ethnic. Casabonne 2004, p.118, does not rule out Aphrodisias and, based on a typological comparison with the coinage of Holmoi and Pharnabazus, suggests a mintage period of c. 380–375 BC.

Several types of silver fractions are also tentatively attributed to Aphrodisias on this page. First, the obols with a similar design on the obverse and the head of Hermes on the reverse (Type 2). Notice that these obols share with the staters not only the obverse design but also the line border on the reverse. Second, the hemioboles with a seated male figure on the obverse and the head of Athena on the reverse (Type 3), due to the similarity of the composition of the obverse. Third, fractions with the Gorgoneion on the obverse and a seated sphinx on the reverse (Types 4, 5 and 6). These Gorgoneion/sphinx coins are sometimes attributed to Mallos in auction catalogues based on their similarity to Mallos third staters with a sphinx on the obverse and a swan on the reverse.1 However, on the Mallos coins the sphinx has its head facing the viewer of the coin, while on the coins of Types 4–6 it faces ahead and wears a crown.

The attribution of all coin types presented on this page to Aphrodisias is uncertain and this is especially true for Types 3–6.

 

Staters

 

 

Silver fractions