Description: Archaios Numismatics Description: Greek Bronze coin from Abdera in Thrace, circa 175-100 BC. Obverse: Griffin Seated Right on Club, Magistrate name below Reverse: Head of Apollo right in linear square, Ethnic [ΑΒΔ-ΗΡΙ]-ΤΕ-ΩΝ around the sides of the square Mint: Abdera , Thrace Size: 3.56 mm Weight: 15 g Ref: SNG Cop 374 Provenance: ex-LPG Collection Inv:1902.13.10 Condition: Fine, I have always liked this type! As always, Please use the Pictures as your judge as grading is subjective. Notes: Abdera was an ancient city on the southern coast of Thrace, not far from the mouth of the river Nestus, was originally a Clazomenian colony founded in the seventh century B.C. This first venture did not prove a success, but in B.C. 544 the site was reoccupied by the larger portion of the population of Teos, who preferred to leave their native land rather than submit to the Persian conqueror (Herod. i. 168). Abdera now rose to be a place of considerable importance and wealth, on which account it was selected by Xerxes as one of his resting places in his progress along the northern shores of the Aegean. This is the period to which its earliest coins belong. Coinage The griffin as a coin-type at Abdera is clearly copied from that on the coins of the mother-city Teos. It may be borrowed from the cultus of the Hyperborean Apollo. The magistrates whose names occur from the very earliest times on the coins of this town were probably members of the governing body, commissioned to superintend the coinage of the state, and not mere monetary magistrates. The accessory symbols in the field may be the signets, either of the magistrate or of the mint-master. Among those which we meet with on the coins of the earliest period are the following:— locust; calf’s head; dancing satyr, kylix; young male head. The adoption of the Phoenician standard in these northern parts is perhaps owing to the existence in early times on the site of Abdera of a Phoenician trading station or factory, for if the Teian colonists in B.C. 544 had not found another standard already established there, and used for silver in bullion form, it is to be presumed that they would have issued their coins uniform in weight as well as in type with those of Teos, which is not the case. The Bronze coinage was before circa B.C. 350 Some Excerpts From Head, Hist. Num., and Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia We Thank You for stopping in and taking time to look at and bid on our listings. Good Luck Bidding or Buying ! We encourage you to click the "See other items" link above in the "Seller Information" area of the listing as well to check out our other items posted. We have a variety of great classical and other ancient numismatic items available. We will be regularly continuing to post for sale and auction a wide variety of Ancient Roman, Greek, and Eastern coins as well as Medieval, Byzantine, and some Modern coins as well. We do combine shipping if buying or winning multiple items. Just contact us before you pay and let us know and we will gladly send an updated invoice with the combined shipping amount. You can also follow us to be notified when new listings are posted. With over 20 years in the numismatics hobby we continue to revel in the excitement that comes from holding each new small piece of history in our hands. We enjoy the enduring sense of history both of the prior uses and users as well as the creativity and necessity that surround the time and place at which these coins were minted and used in circulation. Our aim is to cater not just to the high end collector but also to the hobbyist and the newly initiated and those on a limited budget. Everyone starts the hobby somewhere and where we can share our knowledge to help inform or jumpstart your collecting pleasure we will aim to do so. We want you to love every purchase you make with us and we always stand by the quality and authenticity of all the coins we are selling.
Price: 45 USD
Location: Seattle, Washington
End Time: 2024-01-11T21:31:33.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0.66 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Historical Period: Greek (450 BC-100 AD)
Composition: Bronze
Era: Ancient
