Silent witnesses of phaselis: Economic and religious identity through coins from archaic to roman imperial periods

This study examines the coins unearthed in the excavation areas of the settlement at the ancient city of Phaselis as a primary dataset for understanding the city's economic and religious identity. Within a broad chronological framework extending from the Archaic period to the Roman Imperial era, the numismatic finds bear witness to both the continuity of urban life and the city's integration into Mediterranean trade networks. The silver staters with galley prows from the Archaic and early Classical periods reflect the maritime character of Phaselis as well as its regional and long-distance commercial connections, while Hellenistic and Roman bronze coins make visible the city's political affiliations and local cult practices through imperial portraits and local symbols. The article goes beyond a purely typological and iconographic analysis by focusing closely on find contexts. Coins recovered from public spaces such as the theatre, agora, baths and main street play a key role in dating the construction, repair and phases of use of these buildings. In this way, the numismatic evidence allows for a holistic reassessment of the economic dynamism of Phaselis, its role as a harbour city and its religious topography. The paper thus brings together urban archaeology and numismatics to propose a new reading of the long-term historical development of Phaselis.