Circa 320-270 BCE
18mm 4.70g
Obverse: Head of Artemis right, wearing earring and necklace.
Reverse: PPIANCIWN, palm tree; rudder to left, dolphin facing downward to right.
Svoronos, Numismatique 17; Joy 493; SNG Copenhagen 548; BMC 12
A fair amount of what we know about Priansos was because one of its inhabitants could sing. In the 2nd century BCE, Priansos sent two ambassadors to Teos, where an inscription remains praising one for singing traditional Cretan poems. Presumably there were more impressive accomplishments from its populace over the few hundred years it existed, but that’s what we have.
Today, the ruins of a medieval castle and several churches stand on the site of the ancient city, which were on a hilltop. Much of the castle was built from the ruins of Priansos. Although inland, the city used Itanos as a port. This probably explains the presence of a dolphin and palm tree on its coins, given that they’re otherwise odd for an inland elevated city.
Priansos and other cities in Crete sign an alliance with Eumenes II of Pergamon.