Could this fourth-century B.C. Ionian coin really be an ancient topographical map?
Some numismatists think the coin’s irregular swirls and stippled areas represent the mountains and river valleys of a 90-square-mile region of western Anatolia around the city of Ephesus. The central loop seems to represent the northern Tmolus mountains, the southern Messogis mountains and the Cayster river valley lying between these ranges. The raised area at the bottom of the coin may represent a block of mountains south of the Maeander River.
The 13-gram (.46-ounce) weight of the three dozen silver and bronze coins bearing this design may help to date them. In 394 B.C. Ephesus forged an alliance with the Aegean islands of Rhodes, Knidos and Samos. The four communities adopted a joint coinage conforming to a standard weight of around 13 grams.
A different origin and a later date, however, may be indicated by the coin’s other side, which shows a Persian official wielding a bow and spear. In 390 B.C. Ephesus fell under Persian control, although Greek Ephesians apparently retained some power in running the city. In 336 B.C. the general Memnon, a Greek mercenary from the island of Rhodes whose wife was a member of the Persian royalty, put down a revolt by the city’s Greek faction. Some scholars suggest that Memnon issued these coins to pay his men.
Why would Memnon take the trouble to have his coins struck with the image of a topographical map? Perhaps to emphasize his, or Persian, control over the region.
Could this fourth-century B.C. Ionian coin really be an ancient topographical map?
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