CPK Posted January 4 · Supporter Posted January 4 Okay, I admit the title is a bit corny. 😜 Today I'd like to show one of my more recent purchases: a very rare provincial coin from the city of Mallos in Cilicia, struck under Commodus. What first drew me to this coin was its eye appeal: a perfectly struck obverse with a good portrait, and a historically interesting reverse. I put it on my watchlist but didn’t buy it. Later, after a bit more research I found out how rare it was, and that was enough to tip the scales in favor of purchase. CILICIA, MALLOS Time of Commodus AE (20.90mm, 6.00g, 6h) Struck AD 177-192 Obverse: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΚΟΜΟΔC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Commodus right Reverse: ΜΑΛ-ΛWΤWΝ, city founder Amphilochus, laureate, standing facing, head left, holding branch in right hand with chlamys draped over left; boar at feet to left References: Levante 1279 (same obv. die), Lindgren III 867 (same obv. die), RPC Online, Vol. IV.3, No. 6897 (3rd specimen this coin) A very rare type. As far as I know, it is listed in only three different reference works: Lindgren, SNG Levante, and RPC Online, which cites the Levante specimen and one sold by Gorny & Mosch in 2002. This coin, now the third (and featured) example listed by RPC Online, is an obverse die match to the Lindgren and Levante coins and a double die match to the Gorny & Mosch specimen. In addition to its rarity, this coin is also visually attractive (despite the stripped surfaces), featuring a perfectly struck obverse with a good portrait, and an interesting reverse scene depicting Amphilochus, veteran of the Trojan War and legendary founder of the city of Mallos. The boar at Amphilochus' feet likely references the great Calydonian boar hunt, in which his father Amphiaraus took part. Mallos was a city located near the southeast coast of Greek Anatolia, modern day Turkey, roughly 30 miles east of Tarsus. It was said to have been founded by Amphilochus, a native of Argos and a veteran of the Trojan War. Later, because of this connection, the city was visited by Alexander the Great and given exemption from taxes. Mallos under Roman times seems to have been an average city with nothing particularly remarkable about it. Coins were issued sporadically, and, if RPC specimen counts are any indication, were never produced in any great quantities, at least not until the early/mid 3rd century AD. In particular, from about Hadrian to Severus Alexander – a period of roughly a century – very few types were produced. Under Severus Alexander we see the first really significant issue, dwarfing all previous, and a few decades later, an even larger series struck under Trajan Decius. Of my coin’s type I was able to find, in total, only four other specimens: one in SNG Levante, one in Lindgren, a coin sold by Gorny & Mosch in 2002, and one sold on eBay (Tater's Relics) in 2014. The eBay specimen, unfortunately, is not pictured; but since it is recorded as having the exact same weight as mine it could be the same coin. My coin is a double die match to the G&M coin and an obverse die match to the other specimens, underlining its rarity. It is also now pictured in the Wikipedia article for Mallos: Mallus (Cilicia) - Wikipedia Thanks for looking! Please feel free to comment and/or post your own Mallos coins, or anything else relevant! 19 2 1 Quote
ambr0zie Posted January 4 · Member Posted January 4 Nice coin with nice portrait and nice reverse! Not to mention generous flan. I have only 1 coin from Mallos, from the pre-Roman ages. 7 mm, 0,67 g. Cilicia, Mallos. AR obol. 440-390 BC. Bearded janiform head / Swan standing left, wings open. Gökturk 30; SNG France –; SNG Levante 134. 9 Quote
Benefactor kirispupis Posted January 4 · Benefactor Benefactor Posted January 4 That's a very rare and beautiful pickup from Mallos. I have two from there, both before Roman times. Cilicia, Mallos 400 - 350 BCE AE 12mm 1.28g Head of Pyramos right wearing corn-wreath / MAΛ; gorgoneion facing. SNG Levante 172 Cilicia. Mallos late 4th century BCE AR Obol 9,5mm, 0.4g Bearded head of Kronos to right. R/ Demeter advancing left, holding grain ear and flaming torch SNG France -. SNG Levante 158 10 1 Quote
Benefactor Ancient Coin Hunter Posted January 4 · Benefactor Benefactor Posted January 4 Nice coin with an excellent flan and strike. It almost looks milled and not hand struck 3 Quote
CPK Posted January 5 · Supporter Author Posted January 5 3 hours ago, ambr0zie said: Nice coin with nice portrait and nice reverse! Not to mention generous flan. I have only 1 coin from Mallos, from the pre-Roman ages. 7 mm, 0,67 g. Cilicia, Mallos. AR obol. 440-390 BC. Bearded janiform head / Swan standing left, wings open. Gökturk 30; SNG France –; SNG Levante 134. Thanks! Tiny little coin - I like the swan! 2 hours ago, kirispupis said: That's a very rare and beautiful pickup from Mallos. I have two from there, both before Roman times. Cilicia, Mallos 400 - 350 BCE AE 12mm 1.28g Head of Pyramos right wearing corn-wreath / MAΛ; gorgoneion facing. SNG Levante 172 Cilicia. Mallos late 4th century BCE AR Obol 9,5mm, 0.4g Bearded head of Kronos to right. R/ Demeter advancing left, holding grain ear and flaming torch SNG France -. SNG Levante 158 Thank you! Nice coins. Again, a remarkably detailed depiction of Kronos for such a small canvas! 2 hours ago, seth77 said: Boar looking like a rhino puppy Does a bit! 😄 1 hour ago, Ancient Coin Hunter said: Nice coin with an excellent flan and strike. It almost looks milled and not hand struck Thanks Coin Hunter! I agree, the reverse isn't perfect but hard to see how they could have done better on the obverse! 1 Quote
panzerman Posted January 5 · Member Posted January 5 Nice coin CPK😎 Before you posted your coin/ I had never heard of Mallos.🤐 1 Quote
CPK Posted January 5 · Supporter Author Posted January 5 12 hours ago, panzerman said: Nice coin CPK😎 Before you posted your coin/ I had never heard of Mallos.🤐 Thanks John! I admit I hadn't either, until seeing the coin for sale and doing some research. 😉 1 Quote
seth77 Posted January 5 · Member Posted January 5 One of my first posts here in the summer of 2022 was about Mallus: 1 Quote
panzerman Posted January 5 · Member Posted January 5 I know one thing/ coins are a fun way to learn history/ geography/ economics😎 1 2 Quote
Spargrodan Posted January 5 · Member Posted January 5 Great pick-up, and great strike as you pointed out! 1 Quote
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