★ Descended from Spartans ★

Septimius Severus Æ 31mm of Amblada, Pisidia. AD 193-211. ΑV ΚΑΙ ΛΟV ϹЄΠ ϹЄVΗΡΟϹ ΠЄΡ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / ΑΜΒΛΑΔЄѠΝ ΛΑΚЄΔΑΙΜΟΝΙѠΝ, Tychai of Amblada and Sparta standing, facing each other, clasping hands, each wearing kalathos and holding long sceptre ΦΙΛΟϹΟ to left, ΑΡΤЄΜΙΔ in exergue. Unpublished in the standard references. 20.19g, 31mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

This coin published in H. Arroyo-Quirce. "ΦΙΛ(Ο) ΑΡΤЄΜΙΔ. An enigmatic coin legend from Amblada in Pisidia and the philosophos Artemidoros" in Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 216 (2020) 129–132;
Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 431, 27 April 2022, lot 3663;
Acquired from Münzhandlung Ritter, 7 January 2009, collector's ticket included.

The reverse legend of this type proudly proclaims Spartan heritage with the word 'ΛΑΚЄΔΑΙΜΟΝΙѠΝ', the ancient name of the Spartan people derived from the mythical king Lacedaemon who founded their city. The reverse type of the Tyches of both Amblada and Sparta clasping hands in a gesture of alliance or friendship points to a connection between the two cities, perhaps of historic descent or in recognition for assistance when threatened by Athens.