Caria (uncertain Persian mint), silver, tetradrachms (great king/incuse rectangle "map") (400-370 BCE)
400 BCE - 370 BCE Silver 33,415 kg
Description
ObverseInscription or printing placed on the obverse.: | The Great King in kneeling-running stance r., holding spear and bow |
ReverseInscription or printing placed on the reverse.: | Incuse rectangle with the so-called "relief map of the hinterland of Ephesus" |
Mint and issuing power
MintIdentifies the place of manufacture or issue of a numismatic object.: | Caria (uncertain Persian mint) | Ancient regionAncient region.: | Caria | Modern countryModern country: Turkey | AuthorityIdentifies the issuing power. The authority can be "pretended" when the name or the portrait of X is on the coin but he/she was not the issuing power. It can also be "uncertain" when there is no mention of X on the coin but he/she was the issuing power according to the historical sources: | Persian Empire |
Chronology
FromIdentifies the initial date in a range assigned in a numismatic context. | 400 BCE | toIdentifies the final date in a range assigned in a numismatic context.. | 370 BCE | PeriodTime period of the numismatic object.: Classical 480-323 BC ![]() |
Physical description
MetalThe physical material (usually metal) from which an object is made.: | Silver ![]() |
Median weightMedian of the weights of numismatic objects (in grams). in grams | 15.30 | DenominationTerm indicating the value of a numismatic object. Examples: tetradrachm, chalkous, denarius.: | tetradrachm ![]() |
StandardStandard.: |
Image

References
Die study referencePublication of the study: | Johnston 19671Johnston 1967, n° 5–17 | ||
Coin series referenceReference to coin series study: | Babelon 19242Babelon 1924, n° 2902, SNG von Aulock Karien3SNG von Aulock Karien, n° 7809 |
Obverse dies distribution
FrequencyFrequency of specimen in distribution. ᵖ | Number of obversesNumber of obverse dies. ᵖ (o) | % (o) | Number of coinsNumber of coins. (n) | % (n) | Die nameName(s) of the die(s). |
1 | 23 | 82.14 | 23 | 65.71 | 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 |
2 | 3 | 10.71 | 6 | 17.14 | 3-4, 18-19, 27-28 |
3 | 2 | 7.14 | 6 | 17.14 | 10a-c, 13-15 |
Total | 28 of 28 | 99.99 | 35 of 35 | 99.99 |
Reverse dies distribution
no distribution is available
Quantification
Number of obversesNumber of obverse dies. ᵖ (o) | 28 | Number of singletons (o1)The number of singleton coins. ᵖ | 23 |
Number of reverse diesNumber of reverse dies. (r) | Number of coinsNumber of coins. (n) | 35 | |
Coins per obverse dieNumber of coins per obverse die. (n/o) | 1.25 | Coins per reverse dieNumber of coins per reverse die. (n/r) | |
Reverse per obverse ratioRatio of obverse dies divided by reverse dies. (r/o) | Percentage of singletons (o1)number of coins (n) divided by the number of singletons (o1) ᵖ | 82.14 % | |
Original number of dies (O) (Carter 1983 formula)The estimation of the number of coins according to Carter 1983 ᵖ | 109.2 | Coins struck if 20,000 as average productivity per dieCoins made if the average productivity for obverses (according to Carter) is 20,000. ᵖ | 2,184,000 |
Original number of dies (O) (Esty 2011 formula)The estimation of the number of coins according to the singleton formula in Esty 2011 ᵖ (O) | 140 | Survival rate if 20,000 as average productivity per dieSurvival rate if average productivity is 20,000. ᵖ | 0.00002 |
Coverage (o = % of O) (Esty 1984 formula)Esty 1984 - coverage (% of O) ᵖ (o = % of O) | 34.29% | Die productivity if survival rate 1/2,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/2,000. ᵖ | 641.03 |
Weight of silver (in kg) if 20,000 coins per die (O = Carter formula)Carter 1983 * Median weight * 20000 (*10 if gold or electrum) ᵖ | 33,415 kg <br /> 33,415 kg | Die productivity if survival rate 1/5,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/5,000. ᵖ | 1,602.56 |
Remarks
Most likely one single workstation "In 1967 Johnston wrote an article in JHS regarding this type, and suggested that the unusual reverse may depict a relief map of the hinterland of Ephesos, showing from a bird's eye view the mountains Tmolos and Messogis between the river valleys of the Caÿster and Maeander, and the three mountain ridges of Madranbaba Dagi, Karincali Dagi, and Akaba Tepesi (see A. Johnston. 1967. "The Earliest Preserved Greek Map: A New Ionian Coin Type" in Journal of Hellenic Studies 87). In her reconstruction, the map served the troops under Memnon of Rhodes, one of the most capable Greek commanders and adversaries of Alexander the Great serving under the Achaemenid king, Darios III, and was issued under his authority sometime around 336-334 BC, immediately before he was defeated at the Battle of Granicus by Alexander. If Johnston's interpretation is correct, then this coin would be not only the earliest known Greek map in existence, but also the earliest relief map known. However, more recently it has been argued that the reverse is probably nothing more than merely an archaistic design, by an engraver who was probably Greek, as the kidarys and king's crown on the obverse are unlike their counterparts on true Achaemenid issues and reflect obvious Greek influence. This then leads to the question of who was responsible for issuing this unusual coin, with evidence suggesting that it may in fact be earlier than Granicus, perhaps struck under an earlier satrap, possibly either Tissaphernes or Pharnabazos. The most recent summary of the ongoing scholarship of this issue is discussed by B. Weisser, Archäologischer Anzeiger, 2009, p. 154ff." (NAC, 146, n° 2275)
References
- ^ Johnston, A. E. M. (1967), "The Earliest Preserved Greek Map: A New Ionian Coin Type," Journal of Hellenic Studies, 87, p. 86-94.
- ^ Babelon, Jean (1924-1936), Catalogue de la collection de Luynes : monnaies grecques, 4 vol., Paris, Bibliothèque nationale.
- ^ Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Sammlung v. Aulock. Karien. 7 Heft (n° 2334-2867), Berlin, 1962.