Ancient Coin Stories

Rough time when Sardis is first occupied.

Approximate time when Sardis becomes the capital of Lydia.

King Croesus of Lydia is defeated by the Persian general Harpagos. As a result, Ephesos and Sardis come under Persian rule.

Polykrates, tyrant of Samos, travels to Magnesia to see Oroetes, satrap of Sardis, who assassinates him.

The Persians burn Sardis, then take Kios.

Xerxes’ army marches out of Sardis and passes through Atarneos, Thebe, Adramytteion, Antandros, Ilion, Gergis, and Abydos on its way to Greece. Its temporary headquarters is at Elaios.

Alexander III takes Sardis and restores Lydian customs and laws.

Tralleis surrenders to Alexander III without incident.

Kleopatra enters into negotiations to marry Perdikkas, who is already married to Nikaia, the daughter of Antipater. Eumenes acts as go-between while Kleopatra resides in Sardis.

Antigonos Monophthalmos obtains control of Tralleis.

Kleopatra accepts an offer of marriage from Ptolemy I from her base in Sardis. Antigonos Monophthalmos, who fears the union, executes her.

Tralleis comes under Seleukid control.

Seleukos I Nikator besieges Sardis without success.

Antiochos I Soter is defeated while attempting to retake Pergamon by the Attalid Eumenes I in a battle near Sardis.

Death of Stratonike at Sardis.

Antiochos III besieges Sardis but fails to take its akropolis.

Antiochos III is defeated by Scipio Asiaticus at the Battle of Magnesia. Through treaty, Ephesos comes under the Attalids. Alabanda comes under Roman control.

Tralleis is taken by the Kingdom of Pergamon.

Philadelphia founded by Eumenes II.

Adramytteion, Smyrna, Sestos, Synnada, Philadelphia, Laodikeia ad Lykon, Attalaia, Erythrai, Ephesos, Perge, and Assos come under Roman control after Attalos III, the last Attalid king, leaves it to Rome in his will.

The Kingdom of Pergamon is fully incorporated into the Roman Empire, bringing Aigai, Pergamon, Ephesos, Smyrna, Thyateira, Sardis, Magnesia, Kyzikos, Miletos, and Kolophon under its domain.

Tralleis is punished by Rome for supporting the pretender Eumenes III by losing the privilege to mint coins.

Adramytteion, Ephesos, Pergamon, Magnesia, Tralles, Apamea, Samos, 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.

Tralleis is severely damaged by an earthquake. Augustus provides funds for the reconstruction, so Tralleis renames itself to Caesarea.

Adramytteion, Aigai, Philadelphia, Apollonis, Smyrna, Sardis and Magnesia are severely damaged by an earthquake. Tiberius provides financial support.

Magnesia ad Sipylum is heavily damaged by an earthquake.

Hadrian elevates Kyzikos, Pergamon, Smyrna, Ephesos and Sardes as region centers for the imperial cult.