The Augustus coins described within these pages belong to the eastern part of the Roman province of Asia known as Phrygia. The Phrygians were a European race who migrated from Thrace to Asia Minor c. 1200 B.C., displacing the Hittites wherever they settled. In antiquity, Phrygia was a kingdom in the west central part of the Anatolia highlands, part of modern Turkey. It had a rich mythological heritage, as the homeland of the Great Mother Cybele, and an influential history, before it was overwhelmed by Cimmerian invaders, then briefly conquered by its neighbor Lydia, before it passed successively into the Persian Empire of Cyrus, the empire of Alexander the Great and his successors, was taken by the king of Pergamum, and eventually became part of the Roman Empire. From 116 B.C. most of the area was incorporated within the Roman imperial province of Asia; in 25 B.C. the eastern section, known as Phrygia Galatia, was included within the province of Galatia. Its major cities included Laodicea, Hierapolis and Colossae.
The coins are generally small (15mm-21mm), bronze and truely beautiful, varied, intriging and collectable. The reverses contain images from majestic statues of Artemis to Gaius Caesar in facing quadriga charging towards you, from ears of corn resting upon a beautiful maeander pattern to images of the god Mên.
This catalogue of Augustus Phrygian coins has been arranged to make things informative, simple and interesting, with clear pictures and attribution. On the right is a clickable list of the relevant issueing mints and below is a interactive map, just click on the Augustus coinage mint cities and you will go straight to the coins. Starting with a brief summary of the city, the details of the various magistrates on the issues are followed by the portrait style used and then the photo and attribution. Dates are added when possible although these coins are notoriously hard to date accurately. The weights and size of the coins ( taken from a known example or from RPC ) are followed by a cross reference. Although it is a problem sometimes attributing correctly between the coins of Augustus and Tiberius in this region, we have 'sided' mostly with the latest thoughts, however these pages will be updated constantly as soon as any new information arises. Also with the very nature of numismatics new specimens can be found and these too will be updated. We have tried to provide the best available photos of each coin with clear attribution. We have focused just on Augustus portraiture so coins of his reign but not his portrait are not generally included such as Gaius Caesar.
Please also visit the Glossary page for any terms not understood and please take time to read the Credits which contains the people and companies who assisted in this project, and without such help this catalogue would never of been published.
Below is a interactive map of Phrygia with all the cities/towns with mints ( in red ) and the mints that issued coins under Augustus have been circled, just click on the circled mints to view the coins.
