PHRYGIA. Gordion. Circa 3rd century-189 BC. Obol (Silver, 10 mm, 0.68 g, 2 h). Laureate and draped jugate busts of Apollo and Artemis to right, quiver over the shoulder of Artemis. Rev. ΓOPΔI-ANΩN Bow and quiver. Borrell, Unedited Greek Coins, p. 27 in NC 1845-184 = Paris AA.GR.10254. Leu Web Auction 4 (2018), 301. Roma 15 (2018), 282 corr. (dating). Very rare and in exceptional condition for this interesting issue. Slightly porous, otherwise, good very fine.

When Alexander visited Gordion to unravel the famous Gordian Knot in 333 BC, the ancient Phrygian capital had already lost most of its importance. The city's only known coinage consists of a very rare series of obols, which must date to before 189 BC, when the inhabitants fled the Romans under Gnaeus Manlius Vulso and abandoned the city (Polyb. 21.37 and Livy 38.18.10-13). Gordion subsequently fell into decay and was only refounded, as a small Roman settlement, in the 1st century AD.