Lot 2608

Description

Pamphylia, Side, silver drachm, (205 - 100 B.C.), (3.76 g), obv. large head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet, rev. Nike advancing to left, wearing long chiton, and peplos wound about waist and left arm, holding in right hand a wreath, pomegranate to left, in field, CT to left in field, (cf.S.5435, SNG France 3, 724, [similar dies], SNG von Aulock -). Dark gray patination, otherwise nearly extremely fine and rare.

Ex CNG eSale 218 (lot 267), September 9, 2009. ^Side in Pamphylia, founded by colonists from Cumae in Aiolis, advanced to a primary position among the cities of Pamphylia on account of its large and hospitable harbour, which fostered an active ship-building trade. Side was constantly at loggerheads with its neighbor Aspendos, and was as well a prime trophy in the wars of the Hellenistic period. The massive production of tetradrachms of Side, with only a very few drachms, beginning in the second quarter of the 2nd century BC, was a consequence of the Roman defeat of Antiochos III at Magnesia in 190 BC, after which the city was given over to the loyal Roman ally Eumenes II of Pergamon. The city became an anchor for Pergamene and later Roman control of the southern coast of Asia Minor, and the surge of coinage reflects its important position as a centre for ship-building for the Mediterranean fleets and for regional trade. The 'Kleuch-' tetradrachms must have been struck over a number of years, becoming a standard trade coinage. The coinage continued to use the civic symbol of the pomegranate 'sidh'.