Nomos 21

CILICIA. Isaura. Severan Period, circa 200-210. Hemiassarion (Bronze, 18 mm, 2.96 g, 6 h). Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion's skin headdress. Rev. I-CA-Y-PΩN Youthful male figure, wearing hunting dress and brandishing a short sword or dagger in his upraised left hand, riding a lion rushing to right. Klein 657 (same dies). SNG Levante 258 (this obverse die). Struck from dies of very fine style, with an attractive light green patina and earthen highlights. Good very fine.

The coinage of Isaura that was struck during the first decade of the 3rd century is remarkable for its exceptionally fine artistic quality, of which this piece is a typical example. The reverse scene must refer to a myth that was well-known at the time and was related to Isaua. The lion-rider on the reverse is not a warrior – he is not wearing armor, his head is bare and his hair is long (or could he be a she, perhaps an Amazon?) – and the short weapon he carries does not look particularly military. Could this lion actually be an ancient version of the Aslan from Narnia?