PHRYGIA. Ceretapa. Pseudo-autonomous issue. 1/3 Assarion (Bronze, 15 mm, 2.19 g, 7 h), time of the Antonines, 138-192. Head of Herakles to left, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. KЄPЄTAΠЄ/Ω-N Bow and arrows in bowcase and lion skin draped over club. BMC 6 = Von Aulock, Phrygien I, 454 (same dies). Rare. A lovely and interesting issue with attractive earthen deposits. Good very fine.


The fact that this interesting pseudo-autonomous provincial issue from Ceretapa is clearly reminiscent of bronze coins of Alexander 'the Great' can hardly be a coincidence: perhaps the city was, like Blaundus and Peltae, originally a Macedonian military settlement.