Colonial Acres Coins
SKU: SKU:AC-0462
Ancient Ionia 650-550 BC Militos Silver 1/12 Stater AU-UNC (AU55)
Ancient Ionia 650-550 BC Militos Silver 1/12 Stater AU-UNC (AU55)
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Ancient Ionia 650-550 BC Militos Silver 1/12 Stater AU-UNC (AU55)
Between 650 and 550 BC, Miletus in Ionia was at the height of its Archaic-period prosperity and influence, standing as one of the most powerful city-states in the Greek world. Its strategic coastal position on Asia Minor made it a leading hub for maritime trade, connecting the Aegean with Egypt, the Near East, and the Black Sea. During this time, Miletus expanded aggressively through colonization, reportedly founding numerous settlements that extended its economic and cultural reach far beyond Ionia.
Politically, the city experienced the typical Archaic tension between aristocratic rule and emerging tyrannies, reflecting broader Greek developments of the period. Wealth from trade supported strong civic institutions and monumental building projects, while also fostering intellectual activity. This era laid the groundwork for Miletus’ later fame as the birthplace of early Greek philosophy, though figures like Thales of Miletus would emerge slightly later, in the early 6th century BC.
By the end of this period, Miletus was already a dominant regional power, but it also faced growing external pressure from the expanding Achaemenid Empire, which would soon bring Ionia under Persian control and significantly reshape the city’s political trajectory.
Obverse: The forepart of a lion facing left, with its head to the right.
Reverse: A floral star pattern in an incuse square.
Specifications:
Issuer: Miletos (Ionia)
Composition: Silver
Weight: Approx. 1.2 g
Diameter: Approx. 10 mm
Mint: Miletus, Ionia (modern-day Balat, Turkey)
Between 650 and 550 BC, Miletus in Ionia was at the height of its Archaic-period prosperity and influence, standing as one of the most powerful city-states in the Greek world. Its strategic coastal position on Asia Minor made it a leading hub for maritime trade, connecting the Aegean with Egypt, the Near East, and the Black Sea. During this time, Miletus expanded aggressively through colonization, reportedly founding numerous settlements that extended its economic and cultural reach far beyond Ionia.
Politically, the city experienced the typical Archaic tension between aristocratic rule and emerging tyrannies, reflecting broader Greek developments of the period. Wealth from trade supported strong civic institutions and monumental building projects, while also fostering intellectual activity. This era laid the groundwork for Miletus’ later fame as the birthplace of early Greek philosophy, though figures like Thales of Miletus would emerge slightly later, in the early 6th century BC.
By the end of this period, Miletus was already a dominant regional power, but it also faced growing external pressure from the expanding Achaemenid Empire, which would soon bring Ionia under Persian control and significantly reshape the city’s political trajectory.
Obverse: The forepart of a lion facing left, with its head to the right.
Reverse: A floral star pattern in an incuse square.
Specifications:
Issuer: Miletos (Ionia)
Composition: Silver
Weight: Approx. 1.2 g
Diameter: Approx. 10 mm
Mint: Miletus, Ionia (modern-day Balat, Turkey)
