Ancient Coin Stories

Kalynda was the home of King Damasithymos, though this coin was minted long after his death. He was the unfortunate recipient of one of the oddest incidents in the Persian War when, during the Battle of Salamis, Artemisia sought to escape from an Athenian vessel. She therefore ordered her boat to ram Danasithymos. When the Athenians saw this, they figured she must be on their side and gave up the case. When Xerxes witnessed it, he assumed Artemisia had sunk an enemy boat. Damasithymos took the brunt of the action. He died.

Kalynda took some importance between being on the border between Caria and Lycia, and came under the competing interests of Kaunos and Rhodes. During the time this coin was issued, it may have enjoyed brief independence.

We know the worship of Artemis was important not only through this coin, but also because 3rd century BCE papyri mention a settlement called Kypranda that existed on Kalynda’s territory, or may have been Kalynda herself. They mention an annual festival that is believed to have honored Artemis.

Kalynda is known to have minted three bronze types and possibly silver types. The attribution of the silver coins is disputed, but this is an example of Omer Tatar’s first series, of which only three other examples are known, all in museums.

The location of Kalynda is contested. For some years it was believed to have existed on the mound of Asar Tepe, but the problem is no coins of Kalynda have ever been found there. It’s therefore thought the actual city may have been nearby.

Kalynda remained populated into Roman times, and evidence exists that it was damaged in an earthquake in 141 CE and was assisted in rebuilding funds by Opramoas of Rhodiapolis. No provincial coinage is known from it.