CARIA. Alabanda. Circa 167/6-133 BC. Tridrachm (Silver, 26 mm, 11.77 g, 12 h), CY 9 = 158/7. Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. AΛABAN-ΔEΩN / Θ Pegasos alighting to right; all within olive wreath. BMC -, cf. 2 (differing date). SNG von Aulock 2385-2387 (differing dates). Waggoner, Alabanda, Series 5. Extremely rare. An attractive and well struck example of this unusual and interesting issue. Very fine.


The unusual appearance of Alabandian wreathed tridrachms of around 10.5-12 g might be connected to the introduction of the cistophoric coinage in 175/166 BC. If this is true, the tridrachms were most likely meant to circulate in Asia, whereas the contemporary tetradrachms of Attic weight were produced for export to Syria. The dates run from Year 1 to 33 (with numerous gapes), which promted Waggoner to assign them to the 34-year period between 167/6, the year of the conferment of liberty to large parts of the Rhodian Peraia by the Roman Senate, and the establishment of the Roman province of Asia in 133.