Coins from Cappadocia
Cappadocia is in eastern Anatolia, in the center of what is now Turkey.

After ending Persian rule, Alexander the Great intended to rule Cappadocia through one of his military commanders, but Ariarathes, a Persian aristocrat, somehow made himself king of the Cappadocians. He left the kingdom to a line of successors, who mostly bore the name of the founder of the dynasty. Under Ariarathes IV, Cappadocia became an ally of Rome.

The kingdom maintained independence until A.D. 17, when Tiberius reduced Cappadocia to a Roman province.
Cappadocia
(1) Antoninus Pius
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/1420_Antoninus_Pius_Caesarea2.jpg
An AR Didrachm struck 139 AD in Caesarea (Cappadocia)
Obverse: laureate head right; ANTΩNEINOC__CEBACTOC

Reverse: Mount Argaeus, statue of Helios on top, holding globe and scepter, star below; YΠAT B ΠAT ΠAT P

Diameter: 20 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 6.3 g
No notes for this coin
Sydenham 301c var. (reverse legend); Metcalf 124b
Roman Provincial (Adoptive Emperors)
(2) Antoninus Pius
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/A051.jpg
An AR Didrachm struck 138-161 AD in Caesarea (Cappadocia)
Obverse: ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΑΝΤⲰΝƐΙΝΟϹ ϹƐΒΑϹΤΟϹ, Laureate head of Antoninus Pius, right

Reverse: ƐΥϹƐΒƐΙΑ, Eusebeia standing, left, wearing stephane, extending right hand over altar

Diameter: 20 mm
Die Orientation: 6 H
Weight: 6.35 g
No notes for this coin
RPC IV.3, 6913 (temporary); Cop 235; BMC 154; S 292; Metcalf 116b
Roman Provincial (Adoptive Emperors)
(3) Antoninus Pius
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Screenshot_2018-09-24_11.01.29.png
An AR Drachm struck 139 A.D. in Caesarea (Cappadocia)
Obverse: AYTOKP ANTWNEI-NOC CEBACTOC - Bare head right.

Reverse: YΠATOC B - Mount Argaeus, trees on slopes, on the summit is Helios standing left, holding globus and sceptre.

Diameter: 18.4 mm
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 3.1 g
No notes for this coin
Sydenham 298.
Roman Provincial (Adoptive Emperors)
(4) Archelaus
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/1331_Archelaus_Philopatris_Ktistes.jpg
An AR Drachm struck 3-4 AD in Eusebeia
Obverse: diademed head right

Reverse: club; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ APXEΛΑΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΡΙΔΟΣ TOY ΚΤΙΣΤΟΥ / Λ_Θ

Diameter: 18 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.3 g
year 39
RPC I, 3603
Greek (Kingdom of Cappadocia)
(5) Ariarathes IX
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/1320_Ariarathes_X.jpg
An AR Drachm struck 96-95 BC in Eusebeia
Obverse: diademed head right

Reverse: Athena standing left, holding Nike with wreath, resting hand on spear and shield; BAΣIΛEΩΣ / APIAPAΘOY / EYΣEBOYΣ // (ΠI) / E

Diameter: 17 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 4.25 g
No notes for this coin
Simonetta 4c
Greek (Kingdom of Cappadocia)
(6) Ariarathes V
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/283_Ariarathes_V(0).jpg
An AR Drachm struck 131-130 BC in Eusebeia
Obverse: diademed head right

Reverse: Athena standing left, holding Nike and resting hand on grounded shield; BAΣIΛEΩΣ / APIAPAΘOY / EYΣ[E!]BOYΣ, (AY) left; (ΠAΦI) in the middle; (ΔI) right, ΛΓ - year 33

Diameter: 17 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 4.3 g
middle E in EYΣEBOYΣ is missing, usually there is ΓΛ in exergue
Simonetta 13 (var)
Greek (Kingdom of Cappadocia)
(7) Ariarathes VI
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Ariarathes_VI.jpg
An AR Drachm struck 129-128 BC in Eusebeia | Tyana
Obverse: diademed head right

Reverse: Athena holding spear and Nike, shield at her feet; BAΣIΛEΩΣ / APIAPAΘOY / EΠIΦANOYΣ, M / A

Diameter: 17 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.9 g
(mint A)
Simonetta Collection 10, Simonetta 3 var. (K inner right right), Mørkholm Cappadocia I 4b var. (same), SNG Cop -, SNGvA -, BMC Galatia -
Greek (Kingdom of Cappadocia)
(8) Ariarathes VII
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Ariarathes_VII.jpg
An AR Drachm struck 106 BC in Eusebeia | Tyana
Obverse: Diademed head right

Reverse: Athena holding spear and Nike, shield at her feet; BAΣIΛEΩΣ / APIAPAΘOY / ΦIΛOMHTOPOΣ, M / K / IA

Diameter: 17 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.98 g
No notes for this coin
SNGCop 141
Greek (Kingdom of Cappadocia)
(9) Ariarathes VII
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Screenshot_2018-03-16_12.19.22.png
An AR Tetradrachm struck 130-80 B.C. in Eusebeia
Obverse: Diademed head of Antiochos VII right, fillet border.

Reverse: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΕΥΓΕΡΤΟΥ / ΔΙ-A - Athena standing left, holding Nike and spear and resting left hand on shield at her side, ΔI monogram over A in left field, all within laurel border.

Diameter: 27 mm
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 16.04 g
No notes for this coin
SC 2149.
Greek (Kingdom of Cappadocia)
(10) Ariarathes VIII
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/826_Ariarathes_VIII.jpg
An AR Drachm struck 99-98 BC in Eusebeia
Obverse: diademed head right

Reverse: Athena holding spear and Nike, shield at her feet; BAΣIΛEΩΣ / APIAPAΘOY / EYΣEBOYΣ, T_Λ / B

Diameter: 18.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 4.1 g
No notes for this coin
Simonetta (2007), 12 (Ariarathes V.)
Greek (Kingdom of Cappadocia)
(11) Ariarathes X
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/1405_Ariarathes_X_Artemis2.jpg
An AE unit struck 42-36 BC in Eusebeia
Obverse: draped bust of Artemis left

Reverse: stag left; BAΣIΛEΩΣ / APIAPAΘ

Diameter: 14.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.45 g
No notes for this coin
Simonetta 4 (uncertain); HGC 7, 856.
Greek (Kingdom of Cappadocia)
(12) Ariarathes X
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/1427__Ariarathes_X2.jpg
An AR Drachm struck 38-37 BC in Eusebeia
Obverse: diademed head right

Reverse: Athena standing left holding Nike with wreath spear and shield on the ground; trophy to the left; BAΣIΛEΩΣ / AΡIAΡAΘOΥ // EΥΣEBOΥΣ KAI / ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOΥ / (ΠΛΘMO) / E

Diameter: 15 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 4.2 g
No notes for this coin
BMC Greek (Galatia) 2.p43 Simonetta 1977 2.p45
Greek (Kingdom of Cappadocia)
(13) Ariobarzanes I
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Ariobarzanes_I.jpg
An AR Drachm struck 67-66 BC in Eusebeia
Obverse: diademed head right

Reverse: Athena standing left, holding Nike with wreath, spear and shield; BAΣIΛEΩΣ / APIOBAPZANOY / ΦIΛOPΩMAIOY, (MT) / ΘK

Diameter: 16.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 4.2 g
No notes for this coin
Simonetta 40b
Greek (Kingdom of Cappadocia)
(14) Ariobarzanes II
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Ariobarzanes_II.jpg
An AR Drachm struck 56 BC ? in Eusebeia
Obverse: diademed head right

Reverse: Athena holding spear and Nike, shield at her feet; BAΣIΛEΩΣ / APIOBAPZANO[Y] / ΦIΛOPATOP, Z?

Diameter: 16 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.9 g
No notes for this coin
BMC Greek (Galatia) 1.p41; Simonetta 1977 1.p43
Greek (Kingdom of Cappadocia)
(15) Ariobarzanes III
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Ariobarzanes_III(1).jpg
An AR Drachm struck 52-42 BC in Cappadocia
Obverse: Diademed, bearded head of king right

Reverse: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΟΒΑΡΖΑΝΟΥ ΕΥΣΕΒΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΟΡΩΜΑΙΟΥ Athena standing left, holding Nike on outstretched right hand and shield and spear in left hand; in upper right field, monogram; in lower left field, crescent and star; in exergue, [Θ].

Diameter: 0 mm
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 0 g
No notes for this coin
Simonetta 1b. BMC 1. SNG Copenhagen 162. SNG Tübingen 4609
Greek (Kingdom of Cappadocia)
(16) Ariobarzanes III
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Ariobarzanes_III(2).jpg
An AR Drachm struck 42 BC in Eusebeia
Obverse: diademed head right

Reverse: Athena holding spear and Nike, shield at her feet; BAΣIΛEΩΣ / AΡIOBAΡZANOΥ / EΥΣEBOΥΣ / KAI ΦIΛOΡΩM, star over crescent / HXA / IA

Diameter: 16 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.76 g

Cassius Longinus had him executed in 42 BC because he would not allow more Roman intervention in his kingdom.

S 7304 var
Greek (Kingdom of Cappadocia)
(17) Ariobarzanes III
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Ariobarzanes_III-2.jpg
An AR Drachm struck 42-41 BC in Cappadocia
Obverse: Diademed and bearded head of Ariobarnazes to right

Reverse: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΟΒΑΡΖΑΝΟΥ ΕΥΣΕΒΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΟΡΩΜΑΙΟΥ / Athena standing left, holding Nike, spear, and shield; star and crescent to left, monogram to right, IA (date) in exergue.

Diameter: -
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.54 g
No notes for this coin
HGC 7, 853. Simonetta 3a or 3b
Greek (Kingdom of Cappadocia)
(18) Caracalla
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Caracalla_Tyana.jpg
An AE unit struck 212-213 AD in Tyana
Obverse: laureate head right; AVT KAI M AVP AN_TΩNINOC

Reverse: Zebu bull left; ANT KOΛΩNEIAC TYANΩN / ET IC

Diameter: 28 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 16.1 g
No notes for this coin
SNG LEWIS 1727
Roman Provincial (Severan Period)
(19) Elagabalus
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Untitled(26).jpg
An AE unit struck 220/221 AD in Caesarea (Cappadocia)
Obverse: AY K M AYPH ANTWNEINOC CE, Bust of Elagabalus facing right, wearing laurel wreath, cuirass, and drapery

Reverse: MHTPOΠΟ ΚΑΙCΑΡΙ, Mt. Argaeus set upon altar inscribed ЄT Γ (year 3)

Diameter: 28 mm
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 11.37 g
No notes for this coin
Sydenham 521a
Roman Provincial (Severan Period)
(20) Gordian III
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Gordian_III_Caesarea.jpg
An AE unit struck 243 - II 244 AD in Caesarea (Cappadocia)
Obverse: laureate bust right; AV K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC

Reverse: 6 grain ears bundled together; MHTP KAIC B N ET_Z

Diameter: 23 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 7.1 g
ex N. Andersen Collection ex Roma Numismatics
Bland 92. BMC 346-348
Roman Provincial (3rd Century Crisis)
(21) Hadrian
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/400_Hadrian_Caesarea.JPG
An AR Hemidrachm struck 120-121 AD in Caesarea (Cappadocia)
Obverse: Laureate bust left draped shoulder; AVTO KAIC TPAI AΔPIANOC CEBACT

Reverse: Nike walking right holding wreath and palm branch; ETΔ

Diameter: 14 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.44 g
No notes for this coin
Metcalf 86a; Sydenham Caesarea 255; BMC Galatia p. 62, 140; SNGvA 6413; SNG Cop 223 var
Roman Provincial (Adoptive Emperors)
(22) Hadrian
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Hadrian_Caesarea.jpg
An AE unit struck 117-118 AD in Caesarea (Cappadocia)
Obverse: laureate and draped bust right; E / T _ B

Reverse: club and legend within wreath; ET_B

Diameter: 17 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.6 g
No notes for this coin
RPC III, 3146A
Roman Provincial (Adoptive Emperors)
(23) Hadrian
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/223-3.jpg
An AR Hemidrachm struck 120-121 AD in Caesarea (Cappadocia)
Obverse: AVTO KAIC TPAI AΔPIANOC CEBACT, laureate draped bust right

Reverse: ET Δ, Nike walking right with wreath and palm

Diameter: 15 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.3 g
No notes for this coin
RIC 351, RSC 282, MIR 522v, King 39
Roman Provincial (Adoptive Emperors)
(24) Lucius Verus
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/A146.jpg
An AE Uncertain struck 161-169 AD in Tyana
Obverse: ΑΥΤΟ Κ Λ ΟΥΗΡΟϹ ϹƐΒΑϹΤ, laureate-headed bust of Lucius Verus wearing cuirass and paludamentum, r.

Reverse: ΤΥΑΝƐⲰΝ Τ Π Τ ΙƐΡ ΑϹΥ ΑΥΤΟ ƐΤ Β, turreted Tyche seated, l., holding ears of corn and bunch of grapes, resting arm on seat, resting foot on swimming river-god (Euphrates); Tyche's seat decorated with griffin

Diameter: 21 mm
Die Orientation: 10 H
Weight: 8.81 g
No notes for this coin
RPC IV.3, 8516 (temporary)
Roman Provincial (Adoptive Emperors)
(25) Septimius Severus
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Septimius_Severus_Caesarea.jpg
An AR Drachm struck 194 AD in Caesarea (Cappadocia)
Obverse: laureate head right; AV Λ CEΠ__CEOVHPOC

Reverse: Mount Argaeus, star above; MHTPO__KAICAPI ET B

Diameter: 17 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.9 g
No notes for this coin
Sydenham Caesarea 388; BMC Galatia p. 73, 219; SNG Cop 256
Roman Provincial (Severan Period)
(26) Severus Alexander
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/1376_Alexander_Severus_Caesarea2.jpg
An AE unit struck 224-225 AD in Caesarea (Cappadocia)
Obverse: laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right from behind; countermark - radiate head of Helios-Genius Argaeei; AV K CEOV__AΛEΞAN

Reverse: Mount Argaeus agalma, wreath above; (MH)TPO__KAIC / ET Δ

Diameter: 26 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 13.8 g
No notes for this coin
Volume VI, № 6784, S 555; SM 556b corr.; countermark: GIC 12
Roman Provincial (Severan Period)
(27) Vespasian
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Vespasian_Caesarea_didra.jpg
An AR Didrachm struck 76-77 AD in Caesarea (Cappadocia)
Obverse: diademed head right; AYTOKPA KAICAP OYECΠACIANOC CEBACTOC

Reverse: Nike advancing right, holding wreath and palm; NIKH__CEBACTH

Diameter: 20 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 6.9 g
No notes for this coin
RPC II 1647, Sydenham 89
Roman Provincial (Twelve Caesars)
(28) Vespasian | Titus
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/1637_Vespasian_Titus_Caesarea.jpg
An AR Didrachm struck 76-77 AD in Caesarea (Cappadocia)
Obverse: laureate head of Vespasian right; AYTOKPA KAICAP OYECΠACIANOC CEBACTOC

Reverse: laureate head of Titus right; ΑΥΤΟ ΚΑΙ ΟΥEϹΠΑϹΙΑΝΟϹ ϹEΒΑϹΤΟΥ ΥΙΟϹ

Diameter: 20 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 7.1 g
No notes for this coin
RPC II, 1650; S 102, Metcalf Conspectus 4, Ganschow 66b
Roman Provincial (Twelve Caesars)