v49_0241 - IONIA - MILETUS Unité, (PB, Æ 19)

IONIA - MILETUS

(3rd - 2nd century BC)

Miletus, one of the oldest cities in Asia Minor, was the capital of the Ionian Confederation and its symbol was the lion. Coinage began there in the second half of the 7th century BC and is one of the oldest in the Greek world. Miletus had founded many colonies throughout the Mediterranean world. The city was an important workshop for issues of the type of Alexander the Great and experienced great prosperity after the Peace of Apamea in 188 BC. In the 4th century BC, tetradrachms present on the obverse the head of Apollo and on the reverse the lion passing to the left, turning his head away. Miletus was renowned for its temple of Apollo Didymene.