Æ16 - APTEMIΔOΣ ΠEPΓAIAΣ

Perge's civic bronze issues of the late first century BC were struck under the shadow of Rome's escalating grip on Pamphylia — the region had been formally absorbed into the province of Cilicia decades earlier, yet cities like Perge retained the right to strike small bronze for local exchange. This autonomy was more administrative convenience than generosity; Rome had little interest in monopolizing low-value civic coinage that barely traveled beyond market stalls.

The ethnic legend referencing Artemis Pergaia reflects the city's deeply entrenched cult, which predated Greek colonization and persisted through Roman annexation without interruption.