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GALATIA

Known as the "Gaul of the East," Galatia was founded in the 3rd century BCE by Celtic (Galatian) tribes (Tectosages, Tolistobogii, and Trocmi) who arrived from the Balkans and settled in central Anatolia. This warrior people, who gradually became Hellenized, first became a Roman allied kingdom and then a Roman province. This cultural hybridization is also reflected in the region's numismatic heritage.

Mints of Galatia

Galatian coinage was minted in the tribal capitals of Ankyra (Ankara), Pessinus, and Tavium, and in the name of the kings who ruled the region (Deiotarus, Brogitarus, Amyntas).

Kings of Galatia - A Celtic-Hellenistic Fusion

Galatian coinage is a fascinating example of the convergence of different cultures:

  • Late Start to Coinage: Compared to their neighbors, the Galatians began minting their own coins relatively late, in the 1st century BCE. This indicates their transition to an established state order and a monetary economy.

  • Cultural Synthesis: The coins are a product of complete cultural synthesis. Portraits of gods such as Zeus, Heracles, and Athena, the artistic style, and Greek legends are entirely in the Hellenistic tradition. However, alongside these Hellenistic elements, the distinctive oval Celtic shield seen on some coins (especially those of King Deiotarus) is a proud emphasis by the Galatians on their Gallic heritage and warrior identity.

  • King Amyntas: The coinage of Amyntas, the last Galatian king, demonstrates the completion of this Hellenization process. His coins feature figures entirely belonging to the Hellenistic numismatic idiom, such as Heracles, the lion, or Athena. These coins are a reflection of the period immediately preceding the kingdom's annexation by Rome.