The Dynastic Coinage of Xanthos

Xanthos (Arna in Lycian), the capital and largest city of ancient Lycia, is renowned not only for its magnificent monumental tombs and rock-cut tombs, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage list, but also for the region's

rich numismatic heritage, which reflects its complex history. Particularly the coins struck during the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, under the rule of local Lycian dynasties subject to the Achaemenid Persian Empire, offer a fascinating record of how a civilization expressed its identity, language, and art in the shadow of great powers. These "Dynastic Period" coins are hybrid artifacts, combining the aesthetics of Greek art, the political reality of Persia, and the unique culture of Lycia on a single small piece of silver.  

Xanthos's history as a mint begins shortly after the Persian conquest of the region around 540 BCE. Instead of establishing direct rule, the Persians preferred to govern the region through local dynasties, granting them autonomy to strike their own coinage. Coinage is known to have been struck in Xanthos starting from 520 BCE. This period was a time when Lycia prospered under Persian suzerainty, and masterpieces such as the Nereid Monument were constructed.  

The most striking feature of Xanthos's dynastic coinage is its legends. These coins are inscribed not with the Greek alphabet, but with the region's unique and only partially deciphered Lycian alphabet. The coins typically bear the name of the issuing dynasty or city. For example, abbreviations such as "ARN" or "AΡB" for "Arna," the Lycian name of the city, are frequently seen. This demonstrates their insistence on preserving their cultural and linguistic identity, even while politically subject to the Persians.  

The iconography of the coins, on the other hand, is a perfect example of cultural synthesis. The designs are largely influenced by Greek art. The obverses typically feature popular Greek deities, such as the head of Athena wearing a helmet or a portrait of Apollo crowned with a laurel wreath. This reflects the prestige and artistic influence of Hellenic culture in the region. However, alongside these Greek motifs, or on the reverse, Lycian-specific symbols are also found. The most important of these is the "triskeles," a three-legged spiral, or its four-legged version, the "tetraskeles." This symbol appears not only on the coinage of Xanthos but also on that of many different Lycian dynasties, likely serving as a type of national unity or confederation emblem.  

Over time, the names of the dynasties became more prominent on the coins. For example, the silver 1/3 staters struck by the dynasty of Trbbänimi, who ruled around 400-370 BCE, feature a lion's scalp on the obverse and a large triskeles figure alongside the dynastic name inscribed in Lycian on the reverse. Similarly, the coinage of other dynasties, such as Wekhssere II, also combines Greek deities like Athena and Apollo with local symbols.  

This dynastic period ended with Alexander the Great's conquest of Lycia in 334 BCE. Following Alexander, the region became part of the Hellenistic kingdoms, and Xanthos joined the Lycian League in the 2nd century BCE, adopting its federal monetary system. The coins struck during this period no longer bore Lycian legends and dynastic names, but instead carried the Greek inscription "ΛYKIΩN" (of the Lycians) and the letters "Ξ-A" (Xanthos) indicating the mint.  

In conclusion, the dynastic coinage of Xanthos serves as unique documentation of a transitional period. These coins reflect the complex interplay between Persian imperial power, Greek cultural hegemony, and a tenacious Lycian local identity. Their Lycian legends, Greek deities, and local symbols offer us an invaluable story, not only of who ruled, but also of how this ancient civilization perceived itself and defined its place in the world.

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthos
https://en.drvilla.com.tr/culture-portal/xanthos
https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/lycia/xanthos/i.html
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338001664_Beyond_the_Xanthos_Valley_Rulers_and_mints_in_Eastern_and_Central_Lycia_at_the_time_of_the_dynasty_of_Xanthos