PISIDIA. Isinda. Trajan Decius, 249-251. Oktassarion (Bronze, 39 mm, 27.69 g, 6 h). ΑΥ•ΚΑΙ•ΓΑ•ΜЄ•ΚΥ•ΤΡΑ•ΔЄ[ΚΙΟN]•ЄΥΤ•CЄ• Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Trajan Decius to right, seen from behind. Rev. ICIN-ΔЄΩΝ / ΔΗΜOC Bare-headed and draped bust of the Demos to right, as an old, bearded man with the features of Chrysippos, in the guise of a philosopher, touching his beard with his right hand. Martin, Isinda 1. RPC IX 996. Von Aulock, Pisidien I, 890. Very rare and among the finest known examples. A very interesting coin with an attractive grey and green patina. Minor areas of weakness, otherwise, good very fine.


The depiction of the bearded male bust on the reverse, which the legend explicitly identifies as the personification of the Demos, is clearly based on the portrait of the Stoic philosopher, Chrysippos (circa 279-206 BC), who appeared on a series of bronze coins struck in his native city of Soloi/Pompeiopolis under Philip I (cf. SNG Levante 895). While the reasons behind this are unclear, it does provide a fascinating testament to the fact that civic communities in Asia Minor closely watched each other's coins and were not above reappropriating numismatic iconography for their own needs.