Isinda (AD 244-249) AE 43 - Philip I

Philip I, 244-249 AD. AE43 - Medaillon (41.39g). AVT KAI MAP IOV CЄOVH ΦIΛIPPOC CЄ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right; below, globe in between two branches / ICINΔЄΩN EΦECIΩN / OMONOIA, bearded local hero with spear entwined by snake clasping hands with cult statue of Artemis Ephesia. Exremely rare. Unpublished. Beautiful dark green patina, good very fine.

This coin being the only proof of an before unknown alliance (homonoia) connection in between Isinda and Ephesos. The inhabitans of Isinda traced their origins back to Ionia. Other contemporary coins propagate (Aulock, Pisidien Nr. 868ff.) their Ionian descent. On the reverse of our coin, the local hero is clasping hands with the cult statue of Artemis Ephesia. This hero from which no name is known is normally depicted on horseback, also always accompanied by snake. Where the hero might have been described as “the snakekiller” our coin makes this impossible as here the snake is peacefully entwining the hero’s staff. Hans von Aulock was right to describe the animal as a local protective deity. The serpent staff reminds of the Asklepios staff so it is save to assume that our local deity must have been a heeling god.