Circa 400-380 BCE
Æ 10mm, 0.97 gm, 1h
Obv: Bearded head of Pan right.
Rev: Amphora.
SNG France__; SNG Levante Suppl. 9; SNG von Aulock 5761
Nagidos was among the principal cities of Cilicia and its tendency to display grapes on its coins likely indicated that wine was in the plenty there. This coin is no exception.
Most of their coins also depict Aphrodite, but it’s interesting that this one potrays Pan. Unfortunately, I could find no more information on the worship of Pan in the city, but this is a very rare coin for Nagidos.
After Alexander the Great passed, the city came under Seleukid control, then was taken by the Ptolemies in 270 BCE. Around that time, an interesting episode occurred.
The local Ptolemaic governor took some land of the Nagidians and founded a new city there called Arsinoe. The Nagidians were pissed and refused to acknowledge the residents of Arsinoe as the owners of the land. With things reaching a boiling point, they turned to the new governor (the son of the previous one) Thraseaes.
The plan Thraseaes came up with was ingenious. First, he asked that Nagidos cede the land formally to Arsinoe. Then, he designated Arsinoe as a daughter city of Nagidos. This meant that the people of both had the same citizenship but were still independent. Both sides felt the arrangement was good.
Approximate foundation of Nagidos by settlers from Samos.
The city of Arsinoe in Cilicia is founded by Ptolemy II Philadelphos on land taken from Nagidos.
Nagidos and the rest of Cilicia come under Seleukid control.
Approximate date when Nagidos is abandoned, possibly due to pirate activity.