Penkalas Hoards from Aizanoi

Authors : Hüseyin Köker

Pages : 217-237

View : 51 | Download : 84

Publication Date : 2024-04-08

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study presents the initial evaluations and observations of the hoards unearthed during the 2019 excavation season at Aizanoi, called Penkalas I and Penkalas II. Penkalas I includes denarii and cistophori from both the Roman Republican and Imperial periods, whereas Penkalas II solely contains Roman Republican and Imperial cistophori. Penkalas I is comprised of 651 coins 435 of which are denarii and 216 are cistophori. Of the coins in the hoard, 295 denarii and 42 cistophori were minted during the Republican period, with 141 denarii and 174 cistophori from the Imperial period. The hoard dated between 76/75 - 7/6 BC. Penkalas II features only 10 cistophori, with 1 belonging to Marcus Antonius and the remaining 9 to Augustus, all minted between 39 BC and 19/18 BC. Apart from the Penkalas I hoard, another hoard of similar content is the Halikarnassos hoard of denarii and cistophori from the late 2nd-1st century BC, discovered in 1975. These two hoards are of significant importance in comprehending the scale of the circulation of Roman Republican denarii within the Provincia Asia, which has long been debated. In this context, the Penkalas I hoard is a significant find that has contributed to the discussion on Roman intervention in the coinage system in Asia Minor and the circulation of Roman Republican denarii in this region. Moreover, it is crucial in demonstrating the continued importance of cistophori in the Augustan period. Roman currency was fully established in the coinage system of Asia Minor during the second half of the 1st century BC. This coinciding with the spread of Civil War struggles to Asia Minor and other parts of Anatolia, in addition to the Roman military presence there. Furthermore, this establishment took place during the period in which Augustus assumed sole responsibility for Roman administration. The Halikarnassos hoard, the Penkalas I hoard and the denarii findings from various excavations, as well as the denarii in mu- seum collections (although their provenance is uncertain, they can at least be statistically evaluated), strengthen the idea that Roman republican coinage was established and that the denarius became the primary silver currency in the area, especially from the 40s BC onwards.
Keywords : Aizanoi, Penkalas, Denarius, Kistophor, Asia Minor, Sikke Definesi