Aspendos, Pamphylia (Archaic)

[B]Aspendos, Pamphylia (465-430 BC.) AR Obol (or Hemiobol?)[/B] [u]Obv[/u]: Amphora. [u]Rev[/u]: Triskeles in square incuse. [u]Attribution[/u]: SNG von Aulock 4485 var. [u]Provenance[/u]: ex.Tom Vossen (vcoins#6115), 1.21.08 [u]Weight[/u]: 0.56 gm [u]Maximal Diameter[/u]: 11 mm [u]Axis[/u]: 12 [u]Note[/u]: Though hemiobols from the Aspendos mint are not recorded in any of the standard references, the low weight of this coin suggests either that this may well be a hemiobol instead of an obol or that the minting standards were relatively lax during the archaic period with a wide range of standard weights, particularly for the fractional pieces. ------------------------------------ According to the tradition, Aspendus was founded by colonists from Argos led by the legendary hero Mopsos in the 13th century BC., near the Eurymedon river which, at the time, was navigable. Through the centuries, it was a prosperous city due to the ships that could reach its walls, thus making maritime trade easier and active in the whole Mediterranean sea. In the 6th century BC, it was taken by Lydian king Croesus, and later came under the domination of Persia. In 468 BC, the Persians were defeated during a famous battle that took place at the mouth of the Eurymedon. Later, the rich city was punished for not being willing to pay tribute to Alexander the Great, and was compelled to show obedience. Having become a vassal of Pergamum, the city was rallied to Rome in 190. Aspendus enjoyed its most prosperous period when it was incorporated into the Roman Province of Asia in 129 BC. The city declined under the Byzantine rule, then witnessed a short revival under the Seljuks when, after various rearrangements, the theatre was converted into a palace by the Sultan Giyaseddin Keyhüsrev II between 1237 and 1240. The place was finally abandoned in 1261. GK273