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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Anatolia| ▸ |Mysia||View Options:   | | | Mysia is the northwestern region of Anatolia (Asia Minor) located on the shore of the Propontis (Marmara Sea) between Troas and Bithynia. The chief physical features of Mysia are the two mountains, Mount Olympus at (7600 ft) in the north and Mount Temnus in the south. The most important cities were Pergamon in the valley of the Caïcus, and Cyzicus on the Propontis. The whole sea-coast was studded with Greek towns, several of which were places of considerable importance; thus the northern portion included Parium, Lampsacus and Abydos, and the southern Assos, Adramyttium. Further south, on the Eleatic Gulf, were Elaea, Myrina and Cyme. |
This type has traditionally been attributed to Pergamum, c. 27 - 20 B.C. More recently, it has been suggested that it was struck at Samos, c. 21 - 20 B.C., when the city was Augustus' headquarters during his visit to the East. That all being said, David Sear has voiced skepticism to an Eastern origin in SRCV I (2000) where he writes, "the usual attribution of this issue to an 'eastern' mint is not supported either by the style of the engraving or by the evidence of provenance." In BMCRE I (1923), Harold Mattingly notes that specimens of the aureii of the same exact type (RIC I2 539) have been found at Ambenay (in France) and Xanten (in Germany).
The identity of the imperial portrait has been a matter of debate for many generations, a scholarly tug of war between an idealized depiction of Augustus and his adopted grandson, Gaius Caesar. While many nowadays prefer the former identification (note, for instance, the oak wreath), David Sear favors Gaius in SRCV I, seeing in the coin designs the "well established" connection to the Ludi Saeculares celebrations of 17 B.C., during which "year saw the birth of Gaius' younger brother, Lucius, and the adoption of both by Augustus." In 2012, a Canadian auction house sold a fascinating specimen overstruck on an earlier denarius bearing remnants of a "T R POT" legend and the suggestion of a head on the overtype's obverse. The cataloger(s) tentatively suggested the host coin was a Licinius Stolo denarius from the Rome mint (RIC I2 343), another coin with ties to the Ludi Saeculares in 17 B.C. However, in the present cataloger's view, traces of the undertype's thick edge beading may suggest a different denarius issue.
Lastly, the old description of the candelabrum being "surmounted by a crescent," noted as early as 1910 (in BMCRR II) and which is still widely cited today, was likely an incorrect interpretation of a partially visible patera.RS114560. Silver denarius, RIC I2 540, BMCRE I 684-685, BnF I3 1013-1016, RSC I 2 (Caius Caesar), SRCV I 1749 (same, $1,440 VF), Cohen I 2 (same, 30 Fr.), aVF, retoned, light scratches, banker's marks on obv., slightly off-centered, weight 3.448 g, maximum diameter 18.8 mm, die axis 180o, possibly eastern (Pergamum or Samos?) mint, c. 17 B.C.; obverse bare head of youthful Augustus(?) right, CA-ES-AR counterclockwise below, all within an oak wreath; reverse candelabrum, ornamented with rams' heads, all within a floral wreath entwined with two bucrania and three paterae, AVG-VST• across field; ex CNG e-auction 540 (15 Jun 2023), lot 397; ex Kalevala Collection; ex Baldwin's auction 48, (24 Sep 2020), lot 594; ex T. Hardaker Collection; ex CNG e-auction 277 (11 Apr 2012), lot 210; $500.00 (€470.00)
Hadrian, 11 August 117 - 10 July 138 A.D., Miletopolis, Mysia
Miletopolis was in northern Mysia, at the confluence of the Macestus and the Rhyndacus, west of Lake Miletopolitis Limne. There seems to have been a tribe there, called Milatæ, for whom Miletopolis was the chief town. Nothing is known of the history of Miletopolis except that its inhabitants colonized the city of Gargara.MA114908. Bronze AE 20, RPC III 1653, SNG BnF 1311, Weber 5129, weight 4.567 g, maximum diameter 19.8 mm, die axis 180o, obverse AYTO TΡAIA AΔΡIANOC (Imperator Traianus Hadrianus), laureate and cuirassed bust right; reverse MEIΛHTOΠOΛEITΩN, helmeted and cuirassed bust of Athena, right, wearing aegis; ex Rönesans Salzgitter blue auction 1 (27 Aug 2023), lot 624; $46.00 (€43.24)
Parion, Mysia, 2nd - 1st Century B.C.
Archaeologists have been carrying out excavations at the ancient site of Parion since 2005. Sarcophagi and graves, as well as ancient artifacts have been found in the area. In 2017, ancient toys and a baby bottle from the Hellenistic Period were discovered inside tombs of children, likely intended to accompany the children on their journey to the afterlife.GB114896. Bronze AE 14, SNGvA 1326, SNG BnF 1412, SNG Cop -, BMC Mysia -, F, off center, light corrosion, weight 2.345 g, maximum diameter 14.3 mm, die axis 180o, Parium (Kemer, Canakkale, Turkey) mint, 2nd - 1st Century B.C.; obverse bull head right, within olive wreath; reverse the great altar of Parium, flaming, garlanded, amphora before at base, Π-A/P-I flanking across fields in two divided lines, monogram(?) below; first specimen of this type handled by FORVM, a cursory search did not find another example online; rare; $100.00 (€94.00)
Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Attaea, Mysia
Attaea appears to be known only from its coinage. Its site is uncertain but, based on coin finds, may be Dikeliköy, Turkey.MA114408. Bronze AE 17, SNG BnF 145; SNG Cop 31; SNG Leypold 288; RPC Online III 1755.6; Waddington 5746; von Fritze AMNG IV 367, F, green patina, rough, weight 3.081 g, maximum diameter 16.9 mm, die axis 0o, Attaea (Dikeliköy, Turkey?) mint, obverse AVT KAI-CAP ?ΕΒ (Imperator Caesar Augustus), laureate head of Trajan right; reverse ATTAEITΩN, draped, youthful bust of the Senate right, wearing taenia; $8.50 (€7.99)
Honorius, 23 January 393 - 15 August 423 A.D.
On 23 January 393, Theodosius I proclaimed his son Honorius, age 8, co-ruler (Augustus) of the Western Roman Empire.MA114430. Bronze maiorina, RIC IX Cyzicus 28(c)2, LRBC II 2573, SRCV V 20988, Cohen VIII 20, DOCLR -, F, green patina, a little rough, tight flan, weight 4.331 g, maximum diameter 19.7 mm, die axis 180o, 2nd officina, Cyzicus (Kapu Dagh, Turkey) mint, 23 Jan 393 - 17 Jan 395 A.D.; obverse D N HONORIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse GLORIA ROMANORVM (glory of the Romans), Emperor standing facing, head right, diademed, in military dress, standard in right hand, globe in left hand, SMKB in exergue; $22.00 (€20.68)
Gratian, 24 August 367 - 25 August 383 A.D.
Gratian aroused the contempt and resentment of his Roman troops by taking a bodyguard of barbarian Alans and appeared in public in the dress of a Scythian warrior. General Magnus Maximus took advantage of this feeling to raise a revolt in Britain and invaded Gaul with a large army. Gratian, who was then in Paris, was deserted by his troops and fled to Lyon where he was delivered by the governor to rebel general, Andragathius, and assassinated on 25 August 383.MA114432. Bronze centenionalis, RIC IX Cyzicus 17(a), VF, well centered, green patina, highlighting earthen deposits, scratches, weight 1.945 g, maximum diameter 19.2 mm, die axis 0o, 2nd officina, Cyzicus (Kapu Dagh, Turkey) mint, 9 Aug 378 - 25 Aug 383 A.D.; obverse D N GRATIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse CONCORDIA AVGGG (harmony among the three emperors), Roma seated facing, head left, globe in right hand, spear in left hand, cross right, SMKB in exergue; scarce; $16.00 (€15.04)
Kyzikos, Mysia, c. 1st Century B.C.
In 74 B.C. Cyzicus, allied with Rome, withstood a siege by King Mithridates VI of Pontus. Rome rewarded this loyalty with territory and with municipal independence which lasted until the reign of Tiberius. When it was incorporated into the Empire, it was made the capital of Mysia, afterward of Hellespontus. Cyzicus was one of the great cities of the ancient world.GB113942. Bronze AE 19, cf. BMC Mysia p. 39, 147 ff., SNG Cop 68 ff., SNG BnF 452 ff., SNGvA 1235, F, green patina, scratches, light deposits, weight 4.457 g, maximum diameter 18.8 mm, die axis 0o, Kyzikos (Kapu Dagh, Turkey) mint, c. 1st century B.C.; obverse head of Kore Soteira right, wreathed with grain; reverse KY/ZI in two lines, partially obscure monogram at center, all inside oak wreath; $60.00 (€56.40)
Priapus, Mysia, 3rd - 1st Century B.C.
Palinurus Elephas is a spiny lobster, which is commonly caught in the Mediterranean Sea. Its common names include European spiny lobster, crayfish or cray (in Ireland), common spiny lobster, Mediterranean lobster and red lobster. Claws are much smaller than those of the American lobsters.GB114682. Bronze AE 10, cf: SNG Cop 547 (control: grapes); SNG BnF 2403 (control: caduceus); BMC Mysia, p. 176, 1 (caduceus); SNG Tüb -; SNGvA -, VF, green patina, a few brassy high points, near centered, small edge split, weight 0.986 g, maximum diameter 10.2 mm, die axis 180o, Priapus (Karabiga, Turkey) mint, 3rd - 1st century B.C.; obverse laureate head of Apollo right; reverse lobster or crayfish left, obscure control symbol above (if any), ΠPIA below; rare; $120.00 (€112.80)
Parium, Mysia, c. 45 B.C.
The abbreviated legend translates, "Twin Julian Colony of Parium." The other colony in the twin pair was Lampsakos. The head is probably Venus and intended to flatter Julius Caesar, who claimed descent from Venus. The reverse was also like intended to honor Caesar, the Pontifex Maximus, the head priest of Rome. The praefericulum was a metal ewer used by Roman augurs and pontiffs to hold wine dedicated to libations. It was carried in religious processions and, like the lituus, praefericula were among the sacerdotal insignia frequently depicted on coins of the pontiffs and augurs.RP114662. Bronze semis, RPC I 2259; SNG Cop 280; SNG BnF 141; BMC Mysia p. 102, 80; Lindgren-Kovacs 272; Sear Imperators, App 2, 715, F, attractive green patina, weight 3.227 g, maximum diameter 14.5 mm, die axis 0o, Parium (Kemer, Canakkale, Turkey) mint, time of Julius Caesar, c. 45 BC; obverse female (Venus?) head right, wearing stephane; C G I P (Colonia Gemella Iulia Pariana) around; reverse praefericulum (ewer), D - D (by decree of the decurions) across fields; $90.00 (€84.60)
Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Attaea, Mysia
Attaea appears to be known only from its coinage. Its site is uncertain but, based on coin finds, may be Dikeliköy, Turkey.
As an example of how the German volumes of Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands (The Ancient coins of Northern Greece) are so utterly thorough, AMNG IV goes so far as to note (under each catalog number) which coins of the present type depict the Senate with "hair rolled" as opposed to the style with "curly hair falling down." Our prim and proper coin shows off the former hairdo.RP113947. Bronze AE 20, AMNG IV 371; RPC Online III 1756; Winterthur 2525; SNG Hunterian I 1345-1346 var. (obv. leg.); SNG Cop 32 var. (same); BMC Mysia p. 15, 5 var. (same), gF, large oblong flan, clean smooth surfaces, flan cracks, uneven strike with weak areas, weight 2.742 g, maximum diameter 20.3 mm, die axis 180o, Attaea (Dikeliköy[?], Turkey) mint, c. 98-117 A.D.; obverse A-Y NEPBA - TPAIANO, laureate head right; reverse ATTA-EITΩN, draped, unbearded bust of the Senate right, hair rolled; $50.00 (€47.00)
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