Watch List notes:

PAMPHYLIA. Perge. Valerian II, as Caesar, 256-257. 10 Assaria (Bronze, 32 mm, 19.01 g, 7 h), in alliance with Delphi. ΠΟ ΛΙ ΟΥΑΛΕΡΙΑΝΟΝ Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian to right; in the field to right, I (= 10 assaria). Rev. ΠYΘΙΑ / APTEMIΔOC / AΠΟΛΛΩΝΟC / ΠΕΡΓΑΙΩΝ / palm branch Α palm branch/ΔΕΛΦΩΝ (= The Pythia of the People of Perge, in honour of the sister and brother, Artemis and Apollo) in six lines within a laurel wreath with ties below. Franke-Nollé -. SNG Paris -. SNG von Aulock -. Apparently unpublished. Very well-struck and clear with greyish-green-brown patina. Nearly extremely fine.


This coin bears a possible janiform hidden message. For a Greek speaker, it is not clear which is the city with which Perge was in alliance with. This is because, if the two last lines of the reverse are read together, the word AΔΕΛΦΩΝ (brothers or siblings) is formed, which is clearly a link to Artemis and Apollo which are mentioned above. But then, which is the meaning behind the letter A of AΔΕΛΦΩΝ being in a seperate line and flanked with branches? It is quite clear actually, as by taking out the letter A, we have the word ΔΕΛΦΩΝ (Delphoi) which is the city with which Perge was in Alliance with. Such an interesting coin with a reverse which was created to be read in two different ways!