PISIDIA. Codrula. Antoninus Pius, 138-161. Diassarion (Bronze, 26 mm, 10.50 g, 6 h), circa 147-161. ΑYΤO ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ΑΝΤΩΝEΙΝOϹ Laureate head of Antoninus Pius to right. Rev. ΚΟΔΡΟYΛ-ЄƱΝ / A TΠΡ (?) Helena of Sparta, veiled, standing facing between her brothers, Kastor and Polydeukes (the Dioskouroi), each wearing pileus surmounted by star and holding spear and bridle of horse; horses turning away from each other and raising one fore-hoof. RPC IV.3 online 7306 (same dies). Von Aulock, Pisidien I, 969-970 (same dies). Very rare and of great interest. Minor deposits and the obverse struck slightly off center, otherwise, about very fine.



The extremely rare coinage of the small Pisidian city of Codrula is remarkable for several reasons. Not only does it only begin under Antoninus Pius, with the example at hand, but it also stands out for the repeated reuse of the same reverse dies over several decades under different emperors. For instance, a reverse die depicting the bust of Zeus Kotanes in a temple was used under Caracalla, Elagabalus, Severus Alexander, Maximinus I, Valerian I with Valerian II, and Gallienus with Salonina. Another die featuring Tyche appears on coins minted under Julia Domna, Caracalla, Severus Alexander, Valerian I with Valerian II, and Gallienus with Salonina. Similarly, a depiction of Dionysus was employed under Commodus, Julia Domna, Elagabalus, Julia Mamaea, and Tranquillina.

This raises intriguing questions about how coin production in Codrula was organized. Given the small and sporadic nature of these emissions, it is unlikely that Codrula maintained a permanent mint. It seems more plausible that the dies were stored in a local sanctuary and brought out only when needed, possibly to be sent along with orders to larger, external mints for the production of local currency. Alternatively, these coins may have been struck by itinerant mints operating on commission.

The coin at hand is particularly fascinating for two additional reasons. Its reverse depicts a veiled female figure standing between the Dioscuri, a figure typically identified as a moon goddess. This interpretation originates from an earlier analysis by Imhoof-Blumer, who identified a bust on a coin minted under Marcus Aurelius as female, noting crescent-shaped ornaments on the shoulders. His view was later supported by Aulock (983) and RPC (IV.3 online 7315). However, the figure has also occasionally been referred to as 'Helena' without further explanation. This attribution can be traced back to Louis Robert, who, in his detailed study (Documents d’Asie Mineure, BCH 107 [1983], pp. 498–599, esp. 553–579), analyzed similar reliefs from Asia Minor and identified the figure as Helena of Sparta. According to one tradition, she was the sister of the Dioskouroi, Kastor and Polydeukes (Pollux).

However, the interpretation of the figure as a moon goddess is clearly flawed. The coin, known from only one specimen, depicts the same type as later issues beginning under Caracalla, where the figure is explicitly identified as ΔΙΟϹ ΚΟΤΑΝΟΥϹ—the male Zeus Kotanes. With the moon goddess excluded from Codrula's coinage, there is little doubt that the reverse of our coin indeed depicts Helena of Sparta standing between her brothers, Kastor and Polydeukes.

Another intriguing detail is the inscription A TΠΡ above the three figures, the meaning of which remains unresolved. The most plausible explanation is that it refers to a magistrate name or honorary title associated with the city, though similar inscriptions do not appear on later coins from Codrula. Even with Louis Robert’s compelling resolution of the mystery surrounding the female figure, this coin thus remains an enigmatic and captivating artifact from Codrula’s history.