Sarmatia, Olbia, COTD,

[quadrans]

Sarmatia, Olbia, COTD,

Sarmatia, Olbia, Black Sea, (330-250 B.C.), Frovola 718(?), AE-23, OΛBIO, Axe, and Bow in Gorytos (Scythian bow case), #1
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-153862

Sarmatia, Olbia, Black Sea, (330-250 B.C.), Frovola 718(?), AE-23, OΛBIO, Axe, and Bow in Gorytos (Scythian bow case), #1
avers: No legend, Horned head of River God Borysthenes (Dniepr) left.
reverse: OΛBIO, Axe, and Bow in Gorytos (Scythian bow case), Monogram (EΠI?) in left.
exergue: -/-//--, diameter: 23,0mm, weight: 11,96g, axis: 0h,
mint: Sarmatia, Olbia, Black Sea, date: 330-250 B.C.,
ref: SNG Cop.85var (monogram ?), Sear SG 1685, BMC 10 (?), SNG BM Black Sea ?, Frovola 718var. ( Monogram ?),

Regards

Q.

[Jochen]

A beauty, both sides!

Jochen

[quadrans]

Thank you, Jochen, 

Joe/Q.

[Tracy Aiello]

Wow, what a gorgeous coin.

Tracy

[quadrans]

Thank you, Tracy, 

Regards

Joe/Q.

[gallienus1]

What a beautiful coin Joe, both the personification of the river and the arms shown on the reverse have been very skillfully rendered.
The type of axe shown on the reverse is a sagaris, and the Greek vase painter Euphronios depicted a Scythian with one on a vase which is now in the Louvre.

See- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphronios

I think the sagaris on your coin bears a similarity to the one in the The Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine in Kiev.
See- https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Ceremonial-bronze-axe-from-tumulus-18-near-the-village-of-Lvovo-Kherson-region_fig9_258078300

The museum example was probably ceremonial and has a griffon or dragon head decoration. The one on your coin also appears to me to have such a decoration, and so would also have been ceremonial. I've pasted a restored image of the sagaris in the museum next to your coin as a comparison to show the similarities.

Best regards,
Steve

[quadrans]

Dear Steve, nice to hear from you again,
Thank you first, and
I'm always happy with your add-ons.
I perfectly agree with you about the Sagaris...

Best regards

Joe 

 

[gordian_guy]

Q, that is a beautiful coin. I like the details on both obverse and reverse, the especially the obverse subject. I am jealous!

c.rhodes

[quadrans]

Thank you very much, c.rhodes, 

Regards

Q.

[okidoki]

Wonderful Joe

[quadrans]

Thank you, Eric, 

Regards

Joe