Æ 15 mm, 3,42 g
Warrior, holding couched lance, on horse rearing right /
Bull butting left; Aristeos son of — in two lines in exergue; all within circular maeander pattern.
Newell, Five, p. 44, 12; SNG Copenhagen 826-40 var. (magistrate)
As was typical at the time, there were several cities around the same area that were called ‘Magnesia’. Magnesia ad Meander was likely the most powerful of them and received its name (as did the others) because it was originally settled by people from Magnetes, Thessaly.
Due to its excellent climate and weather, the region soon became famous for its figs, wine, and cucumbers.
The city is perhaps best known in history for the Athenian Themistokles, who was given the city to rule by Ataxerxes.
circa 350-200 BCE
Æ 15 mm, 2,20 g
Strabo visited the city and marveled at its temple to Artemis Leukophryene, which he noted was superior in harmony and beauty to all other temples in Asia Minor. Parts of this temple were dug up and preserved at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. The city’s stadium remains well-preserved, while the rest of the site consists of scattered remains, since most buildings have been destroyed by the locals over time.
ΚΥΔΡΟΚΛΗΣ (Kydrokles), magistrate
circa 350-200 BCE
Æ 17mm, 3,12g
Horseman riding right, holding lance /
Bull butting left, MAΓN above, KYΔPOKΛHΣ and grain ear in exergue, all within circular maeander pattern border.
BMC 26; SNG Copenhagen 814
In ancient times, people facing persecution could escape to the temple of Artemis and find safety there.
ΚΑΛΛΙΑΝΑΞ ΤΡΙΤΕΟΥ magistrate
circa 350-200 BCE
Æ 17mm, 3,80g
Obv: Galloping warrior on horseback right, attacking with spear
Rev: ΜΑΓ / ΚΑΛΛΙΑΝΑΞ ΤΡΙΤΕΟΥ.
Humped bull butting left; all within maeander circle
Waddington 1731
Poseidi-, magistrate
circa 350-200 BCE
Æ 16mm, 4,05g
Horseman riding right, holding lance
Rev. MAΓN / ΠΟΣΕΙΔΙΠ Bull butting left; all within maeander pattern.
BMC -. Imhoof-Blumer KM 14. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG von Aulock –
Poseidip(pos) magistrate
Circa 350-200 BCE
Ae 1.22g 12.07mm
Obv: Galloping warrior on horseback right, attacking with spear.
Rev: MAΓ *ΣΕΙΔΙ*. Humped bull butting left.
BMC -; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock -; SNG Tübingen
-ΝΓΜΣΙΑ-, magistrate
Circa 350-200 BCE
Ae 2.45g 15.10mm
Obv: Galloping warrior on horseback right, attacking with spear.
Rev: MAΓN ΝΓΜΣΙΑ. Humped bull butting left.
BMC -; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock -; SNG Tübingen
Antiochos III is defeated by Scipio Asiaticus at the Battle of Magnesia. Through treaty, Ephesos comes under the Attalids.
Adramytteion, Ephesos, Pergamon, Magnesia, Tralles, Apamea, Kolophon, Smyrna, and Sardis occupied by Mithridates VI as part of the Mithridatic Wars against Rome.
Sulla defeats Mithridates VI and ends the Mithridatic Wars with the Treaty of Dardanos. Adramytteion, Ephesos, Pergamon, Smyrna, Sardis, Tralles, Kolophon, Apamea, and Magnesia return to Roman control.
Adramytteion, Aigai, Apollonis, Smyrna, Sardis and Magnesia are severely damaged by an earthquake. Tiberius provides financial support.