Leu Numismatik AG
Auction 2 11 May 2018
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PISIDIA. Termessus Major. Pseudo-autonomous issue. 9 Assaria (Bronze, 35 mm, 29.73 g, 12 h), circa 250-255. TЄPMЄCCЄΩN AYTONOMΩN Laureate head of Zeus Solymos to right. Rev. TΩN MEIZONΩN Roma-Athena standing front, head to left, holding Nike in her right hand and inverted spear with her left; to left at feet, shield; behind, trophy; to left, Θ (value mark). SNG Paris -. SNG von Aulock 5365 (same dies). Rare. Earthen deposits. Good very fine.
The Pisidian city of Termessos, situated on a saddle below Mount Solymos, had a long history of resisting foreign powers: it had fiercely opposed attacks by the Persians and by Alexander the Great, who abandoned the siege of the invulnerable mountain fortress by saying that he would not let his army die in order to conquer an eagle's nest. The fact that Termessus was one of just three Roman Provincial cities never to strike any coins with imperial portraits (the others being Athens and Chios) and the proud title AYTONOMOΣ on its coinage shows that its autonomy and heritage was, in some form, also respected by the Roman authorities.
The Pisidian city of Termessos, situated on a saddle below Mount Solymos, had a long history of resisting foreign powers: it had fiercely opposed attacks by the Persians and by Alexander the Great, who abandoned the siege of the invulnerable mountain fortress by saying that he would not let his army die in order to conquer an eagle's nest. The fact that Termessus was one of just three Roman Provincial cities never to strike any coins with imperial portraits (the others being Athens and Chios) and the proud title AYTONOMOΣ on its coinage shows that its autonomy and heritage was, in some form, also respected by the Roman authorities.