Nomos 23

CILICIA. Ura (Kelenderis). Circa 460s-450s BC. Stater (Silver, 20 mm, 10.94 g, 6 h). 'RH' (in Aramaic) Ibex recumbent to right; all within border of dots. Rev. 'RH' (in Aramaic) City-wall with two towers; all within border of dots in a shallow incuse square. For the coin: apparently unpublished, but from the same dies as Nomos 18, 2018, 192. For the city: R. H. Beal, The Location of Cilician Ura, Anatolian Studies 42, 1992, pp. 65-73. Very rare. Clear and well-centered. Struck from slightly worn dies, otherwise, good very fine.

The identification of coins from a new mint or, in this case, the proper identification of coins from a mint hitherto considered uncertain, can be due to a number of factors. Coins of that type can be found in a specific excavation, suggesting they were minted where they were found. Or, hitherto unknown coins can turn up, from a hoard or from surface finds, that bear a mint name and types that link them to previously known anepigraphic issues; thus, locating the entire group. This last is precisely what has occurred with the earlier 5th century BC coinage of Ura (later in the 5th century its name was changed to Kelenderis). The present piece proudly bears the ethnic on both sides and also shows us a view of the city walls.