Coins and Antiquities Consignment Shop
  Welcome To Forum Ancient Coins!!! All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!! Please Call Us If You Have Questions 252-646-1958 or 252-497-2724 Expert Authentication - Accurate Descriptions - Reasonable Prices - Coins From Under $10 To Museum Quality Rarities Welcome To Forum Ancient Coins!!! All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!! Internet Challenged? We Are Happy To Take Your Order Over The Phone 252-646-1958 Explore Our Website And Find Joy In The History, Numismatics, Art, Mythology, And Geography Of Coins!!!

×Catalog Main Menu
Fine Coins Showcase
Antiquities Showcase
New & Reduced

Apr 18, 2024

Apr 17, 2024

Apr 16, 2024
Medieval & Modern Coins

Apr 15, 2024

Apr 14, 2024

Apr 09, 2024

Apr 08, 2024

Apr 07, 2024

Apr 06, 2024

Apr 05, 2024

Apr 04, 2024

Apr 03, 2024

Apr 01, 2024

Mar 31, 2024

Mar 30, 2024

Mar 05, 2024
Medieval & Modern Coins

Feb 24, 2024
Judean & Biblical Coins

Feb 23, 2024

Feb 18, 2024

Feb 12, 2024
Medieval & Modern Coins

Feb 11, 2024
Medieval & Modern Coins

Feb 09, 2024
Medieval & Modern Coins

Feb 01, 2024
Medieval & Modern Coins

Jan 24, 2024

Nov 19, 2023
Medieval & Modern Coins

Oct 23, 2023

Oct 22, 2023

Oct 18, 2023

Oct 14, 2023
Medieval & Modern Coins

Oct 07, 2023

Oct 05, 2023
Medieval & Modern Coins

Oct 03, 2023

Sep 28, 2023

Sep 26, 2023

Sep 22, 2023

Sep 21, 2023

Sep 19, 2023

Sep 18, 2023

Sep 13, 2023

Sep 11, 2023

Aug 01, 2023

Jul 28, 2023

Jul 17, 2023

Jul 16, 2023

Jul 09, 2023

Jun 26, 2023

Jun 11, 2023

May 04, 2023
Medieval & Modern Coins

May 03, 2023
Medieval & Modern Coins

May 01, 2023

Apr 06, 2023

Mar 30, 2023

Mar 29, 2023

Mar 28, 2023
Judean & Biblical Coins
Medieval & Modern Coins

Mar 26, 2023
Judean & Biblical Coins

Mar 25, 2023
Judean & Biblical Coins

Mar 17, 2023

Mar 16, 2023

Mar 15, 2023

Feb 27, 2023
Medieval & Modern Coins

Feb 05, 2023
Judean & Biblical Coins

Jan 18, 2023

Dec 31, 2022
Roman Coins

Dec 15, 2022

Oct 09, 2022
Judean & Biblical Coins
Medieval & Modern Coins

Sep 27, 2022

Sep 24, 2022

Aug 29, 2022
Judean & Biblical Coins

Jul 11, 2022

Jul 10, 2022
Medieval & Modern Coins

Jun 17, 2022

Jun 14, 2022

May 30, 2022

Apr 11, 2022

Apr 09, 2022
Medieval & Modern Coins

Apr 02, 2022
Themes & Provenance

Feb 04, 2022
Medieval & Modern Coins

Feb 02, 2022
Medieval & Modern Coins

Oct 05, 2021

Jun 23, 2021

Feb 02, 2021
Books, Supplies & Services

Sep 30, 2020
Books, Supplies & Services

Books, Supplies & Services
    View Categories
Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Thrace & Moesia| ▸ |Olbia||View Options:  |  |  | 
Olbia, Skythia, Black Sea Area

Olbia, a Milesian colony in what is now Ukraine, was settled in the late 7th century B.C. and endured for a millennium. At the convergence of two rivers, about 15 miles inland from the Northwest coast of the Black Sea, it was well located for trade. Olbia was a prosperous trading city and major grain supplier when it was visited by Herodotus in the 5th century B.C. By the end of the 3rd century, the town had declined and accepted the hegemony of King Skilurus of Scythia. It flourished under Mithridates Eupator, but was sacked by the Getae under Burebista, abruptly ending its economic prominence. Olbia was restored by Rome, but on a small scale, and incorporated into the province of Lower Moesia. After being burned at least twice during the Gothic Wars, the town was abandoned in the 4th century A.D.Map of Ancient Greek colonies on the northern coast of the Black Sea

Lot of 8 Bronze Cast Dolphins, Olbia, Skythia, c. 5th Century B.C.

|Olbia|, |Lot| |of| |8| |Bronze| |Cast| |Dolphins,| |Olbia,| |Skythia,| |c.| |5th| |Century| |B.C.||cast| |dolphin|
The Hellenic city of Olbia was founded in the 7th century B.C. by colonists from Miletus. It was located in what is modern-day Ukraine at the convergence of the Hypanis and Borysthenes rivers, about 15 miles inland from the Northwest coast of the Black Sea. Well located for trade, its harbor was one of the main ports on the Black Sea for the export of cereals, fish, and slaves to Greece, and for the import of Attic goods to Scythia. The area was already a major grain supplier by the 5th century B.C. Small bronze dolphins were cast in Olbia, beginning around 550 - 525 B.C., at first as sacrificial objects for the worship of Apollo. Soon after their introduction it seems they were used as an early form of proto-money. Later, when proper coins came into the area, we find the cast bronze dolphins in hoards mixed along with coins, strong evidence that they were being used as money. Olbia
GB99091. Bronze cast dolphin, cf. SGCV I 1684, SNG BM 360 ff., SNG Stancomb 334 ff., SNG Pushkin 12 ff., SNG Cop 67 ff., Olbia (Parutino, Ukraine) mint, c. 5th century B.C.; obverse dolphin with raised eye and dorsal fin; the actual dolphin money specimens in the photograph, no tags or flips, 8 dolphin money specimens; SOLD


Olbia, Skythia, c. 550-430 B.C.

|Olbia|, |Olbia,| |Skythia,| |c.| |550-430| |B.C.||cast| |dolphin|
The Hellenic city of Olbia was founded in the 7th century B.C. by colonists from Miletus. It was located in what is modern-day Ukraine at the convergence of the Hypanis and Borysthenes rivers, about 15 miles inland from the Northwest coast of the Black Sea. Well located for trade, its harbor was one of the main ports on the Black Sea for the export of cereals, fish, and slaves to Greece, and for the import of Attic goods to Scythia. The area was already a major grain supplier by the 5th century B.C. Small bronze dolphins were cast in Olbia, beginning around 550 - 525 B.C., at first as sacrificial objects for the worship of Apollo. Soon after their introduction it seems they were used as an early form of proto-money. Later, when proper coins came into the area, we find the cast bronze dolphins in hoards mixed along with coins, strong evidence that they were being used as money. This example is one of the largest dolphin types.Olbia
SH01466. Bronze cast dolphin, cf. SNG Pushkin 15, SGCV I 1684, SNG BM 360 ff., SNG Stancomb 334 ff., SNG Cop 67 ff., VF, weight 2.830 g, maximum diameter 47.9 mm, Olbia (Parutino, Ukraine) mint, c. 550 - 430 B.C.; obverse dolphin with raised spine, dorsal fin and tail; very rare; SOLD










REFERENCES

Anokhin, V. Coins of Ancient Cities of North-Western Black Sea Area. (Kiev, 1989).
Anokhin, V. The Arrowhead-Money in Olbia and its Vicinity. (Kiev, 1986).
Burnett, A., M. Amandry, et al. Roman Provincial Coinage. (London, 1992 - ).
Corpus Nummorum Thracorum - http://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/
Dittrich, K. Ancient Coins from Olbia and Panticapaeum. (London, 1961).
Frolova, N. & M. Abramzon. Coins of Olbia in the Collection of the State Historical Museum. (Moscow, 2005).
Hoover, O. Handbook of Coins of Macedon and Its Neighbors, Vol. 3, Part II: Thrace, Skythia, and Taurike, Sixth to First Centuries BC. HGC 3.2. (Lancaster, 2017).
Karyshkoviskij, P. Coinage and Monetary Circulation in Olbia (6th century B.C. - 4th century A.D.). (Odessa, 2003).
Poole, R. ed. A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Thrace, etc. (London, 1877).
Sear, D. Greek Coins and Their Values, Volume 1: Europe. (London, 1978).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Denmark, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Volume 2: Macedonia and Thrace. (West Milford, NJ, 1982).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, München Staatlische Münzsammlung, Part 7: Taurische Chersonesos, Sarmatien, Dacia, Moesia superior, Moesia inferior. (Berlin, 1985).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain, Volume IX, British Museum, Part 1: The Black Sea. (London, 1993).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain, Volume XI, The William Stancomb Collection of Coins of the Black Sea Region. (Oxford, 2000).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Russia, State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts: Coins of the Black Sea Region. (Leuven, Belgium, 2011).
Zograph, A. Ancient Coinage. BAR Supplementary Series 33. (Oxford, 1977).

Catalog current as of Friday, April 19, 2024.
Page created in 1.188 seconds.
All coins are guaranteed for eternity