This book focuses on late cistophori that were produced between the establishment of Provincia Asia and the beginning of the Mithridatic Wars. The production of these late cistophori and their place in the economy of the province during this period are discussed by comparing them with contemporary civic silver and bronze coinage, produced at the same mints, as well as the evidence of hoards – especially by analysing the 2002 hoard in detail. This discussion is evaluated in the context of Roman policy and the impact of the Mithridatic Wars in a historical and numismatic context.
In the introduction the political situation after the death of Attalos III, the Rebellion of Aristonikos, the establishment of Provincia Asia, and the historical factors that played a role in the production of cistophori in the region at that time are discussed. The close relationship of the production of cistophori, described as provincial coinage of Asia, with the Roman political organisation in the context of the establishment of Provincia Asia, the road built by Manius Aquilius and the diocesis/conventus districts created within the province are presented. Additionally, previous studies and opinions on the production of late cistophori are re-evaluated, and the factors influencing production are examined. As a result, the double character of these coins is demonstrated, and the production of early and late cistophori is evaluated in the context of the geography created by the establishment of Provincia Asia and the First Mithridatic War.
In Chapter 1 the 2002 hoard, dating to the beginning of the First Mithridatic War, is examined and compared with other contemporary cistophoric hoards. The evaluation of the production volume of cistophori of the mints represented in the 2002 hoard reveals some new results: (1) it confirms the previous assessments of the decreasing cistophoric production volume of Pergamon and the increasing production of Ephesos and Tralles during the Aristonikos period; (2) it updates the date of the first emergence of cistophori in Apameia, Laodikeia, Nysa and Smyrna, and it reveals new data especially on the production pattern of Tralles; (3) the production of late cistophori minted after 128 bc was done in a much more coordinated manner compared with the early ones. The absence of die sharing among cistophori produced in different mints shows that, unlike in the Attalid period, there was no centralisation. Also, by examining a single mint, the involvement of civic administrations in the production becomes clear.
In Chapters 2–9 the catalogue of the coins of the 2002 hoard is presented under separate headings, according to the mints represented, and the coins are listed chronologically according to die studies. In the evaluation sections for each mint that follow the catalogue the early and late cistophori production is discussed first together with the contemporary silver and bronze coinages; then it is evaluated in the context of the 2002 hoard. By means of an overview of the coinage of the mints represented in this hoard, the coin production of these cities is explored in their historical and numismatic contexts and re-evaluated in the light of previous discussions. Thus, this approach also makes it possible to propose new dates for some of the silver and bronze series produced in the examined mints, which is one of the important results of this study.
The die study undertaken between the new variations identified in the 2002 hoard and those of earlier studies provides a more secure chronological sequence for the early and the late cistophori for each mint. By the applicaton of W. Esty's formula to the number of dies identified for each mint, the average number of dies used annually and the production volumes of cistophori are calculated for these mints. Thereby the periodic increase or decrease in the production volumes of cistophori is evaluated within the historical context. In addition, similarities or differences are revealed regarding production patterns between the mints.
One of the important results of the study is the data obtained on the production of cistophori of Tralles. Accordingly, a secure chronology of these coins created by the comparisons with evidence from hoards and die study is established, as well as a later starting date for the late cistophori. Another result is the proposal of a date for late cistophori and civic silver and bronze series of Adramyteon by die study for a single group of late cistophori.
The results obtained according to the Esty formula for the production of cistophori in Provincia Asia are interesting: the average number of dies used per year provides a clear view of the production volumes of cistophori in the province. Moreover, the 2002 hoard evidence reveals that the production level was much higher than has been calculated in previous studies.
In Appendix 1 the late cistophori series of Tralles minted after 89 bc are examined in a historical and numismatic context and compared with other cistophoric mints: new conclusions are revealed regarding the production and date of late cistophori of Tralles.
In Appendix 2 the production of cistophori dated to 105–58 bc and the impact of the Roman tax system on it are examined. In doing so, the volume of cistophoric production in this period is evaluated in a historical context along with the results provided by the study of circulation patterns and dies. In addition to this, hoard evidence is re-evaluated in the context of the Mithridatic Wars, trade activities and the Roman tax system. It is observed that the production of cistophori continued almost unchanged in the period between 90/89 and 58 bc. Moreover, the estimated number of dies for each mint is calculated according to the Esty formula. This process allows for a more accurate estimate of production volumes of the mints and a better reconstruction of the general pattern of production. The evidence reveals that due to war and taxes, the production of cistophori was higher than previously thought and increased by 15% compared to the Attalid period, whereas production of autonomous silver coinage decreased. This makes the production of the early, late and Republican cistophori much more understandable with tables showing the die, the number of coins minted and the amount of silver used. According to this analysis it is clear that the Roman tax system affected the economic situation in Provincia Asia, but, considering that the payments were made in kind and bullion, it did not have a direct effect on coin production.
This study is fundamentally useful in terms of providing a collective overview of the coin production in that period. Consequently, some of the previous assumptions on the production of cistophori are confirmed while new results are reached concerning the dating and other aspects of contemporary autonomous silver and bronze coins in addition to the cistophori. The conclusions of this study have taken our knowledge on this subject one step further. The numerical data obtained from the examination are supported by comparison and analysis of a large number of cistophoric examples with tables and graphs. This admirable and demanding work will undoubtedly have a significant place in scholarship and will be a milestone for new studies on this subject.
