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In the division of Alexander’s realm Lycia fell under the control of the Ptolemies of Egypt and issued only very few coins throughout the 3rd century BC. In 188 BC with the peace of Apamea the Romans entrusted the administration of most of the Lycian peninsula to the island of Rhodes. Opposing this step several Lycian communities formed a political league wishing to bring about Lycian independence and a proper alliance with the Romans. Finally, Rome granted this privilege to the towns organized in the league, which subsequently formed a confederate republic, with common institutions and the right to strike its own coinage for more than 200 years. After the final integration into the Empire there was an attempt to install an imperial mint at Patara, but this was soon abandoned. With one short-lived exception there was, however, no imperial bronze coinage struck in Lycia in the name of different cities.
