Alexandria Troas, 222-225 AD., Iulia Maesa, As, Bellinger A 326.

Iulia Maesa, Alexandria Troas, 222 - 225 AD.,
Æ As (23-24 mm / 6,75 g),
Av.: IVLIA - MAESA AV , her draped bust facing right.
Rv.: COL ALEX / AVG, horse grazing right.
Bellinger A 326 .

The site Alexandria Troas, now called Eski Stambul, is to be found on the Aegean coast opposite the island of Tenedos, about 20 km south of Troy (Ilium). It became the chief port of north-west Asia Minor, with an artificially engineered harbor to shelter boats from the prevailing northern winds. Strabo refers to the city as ‘one of the notable cities of the world’.
Alexandria Troas was founded with the name Antigioneia, by Antigonos I Monophthalmos at about 310 BC. Its inhabitants came from the nearby cities of Kebren, Kolone, Neandria, Hamaxitos and Skepsis. The city was expanded by Lysimachos, King of Thrace, almost a decade after it was founded. He also renamed the city Alexandria in honour of Alexander the Great. The devastating defeat of Antiochos III of Syria by the Romans at the battle of Magnesia in 189 BC resulted in Alexandria´s pseudo-autonomy. The city remained prosperous well into Roman Times. Strabo mentions that a Roman colony was created at the location in the reign of Augustus, named Colonia Alexandria Augusta Troas (called simply Troas during this period).