CILICIA

The region of Cilicia, located in southeastern Anatolia, consists of two geographical divisions: the fertile Çukurova plain (Cilicia Pedias) and the rugged Taurus Mountains (Cilicia Tracheia). Due to its strategic location, this region, which many powers sought to control throughout history, was home to important minting centers such as Tarsus.

Mints of Cilicia

Among the important mints in the region are Adana, Aegeae, Anazarbus, Celenderis, Elaioussa Sebaste, Issus, Mallus, Nagidus, Soli, and Tarsus.

Tarsus

During the Achaemenid Persian Empire period, Tarsus minted significant coins as a satrapal center. However, the peak of the city's numismatic history came after Alexander the Great's conquest. Tarsus became one of the most important mints striking coins for Alexander's vast empire. Indeed, among numismatists, there is an ongoing interesting academic debate as to whether Alexander's famous imperial coinage featuring the head of Heracles / Zeus enthroned was first struck in Tarsus or at a mint in Macedon. This debate highlights Tarsus's central role in Alexander's financial system and the technical capacity of its mint.