The Treasure of Side

This treasure, consisting of 129 silver coins, "tetradrachme", was found near Side and was brought to our museum. The "tetradrachmies" of Side are known to have been minted between 206-205 BC. Although similar "tetradrachmies" were minted with the name of Amyntas, the king of Galatia in the Side mint in 36-25 BC, there was the name of the king, instead of the pommegrenate of Side, on their reverse.

The "tetradrachmies" of Side are equal in weight to four drachmies according to Attic units. This unit was brought to the Pamphylia region by Alexander the Great (328-323). On the obverse of the coins, there was the protector goddess Athena; on their reverse, there was the figure of Nike holding a victory wreath in her hand, the city's symbol the pommegranate and the short form of the name "Cleuchares" (the magistrate, responsible for the minting of coins) - "KAE-YX".

These coins weigh approximately 15,83 grams. They belong to the last series from Cleuchares's mint and they were probably minted in 100-36 BC.