Ancient Greek Bronze Unit from Amisos (2,400-2,100 years ago)
This bronze coin was minted in the ancient city of Amisos (modern-day Samsun, Turkey), an important Greek colony on the southern coast of the Black Sea. It was issued during the period when Amisos was either part of the Delian League or the Kingdom of Pontus.
Coin Description:
Front side: Features a Gorgon head (like Medusa), facing forward with a fierce expression, snakes for hair, and often shown with a protruding tongue—a powerful protective symbol in Greek mythology.
Back side: Likely depicts an owl, civic symbol, or possibly a bull (common on Amisos coins), though specific details would vary based on the exact period of minting.
Technical Details:
Material: Bronze
Denomination: Unit (basic denomination in the local currency system)
Minting date/period: 6th-1st century BCE (approximately 2,400-2,100 years ago)
Condition: Varies by specimen
Historical Significance:
This coin circulated during a pivotal period when Amisos flourished as a Greek outpost in what is now northern Turkey. Originally founded by colonists from Miletus and later resettled by Athenians who renamed it Peiraeus, the city eventually came under the control of the Kingdom of Pontus before Roman conquest in 71 BCE. The coin reflects the blending of Greek cultural influence with regional commercial needs in this strategic Black Sea port.
This bronze coin was minted in the ancient city of Amisos (modern-day Samsun, Turkey), an important Greek colony on the southern coast of the Black Sea. It was issued during the period when Amisos was either part of the Delian League or the Kingdom of Pontus.
Coin Description:
Front side: Features a Gorgon head (like Medusa), facing forward with a fierce expression, snakes for hair, and often shown with a protruding tongue—a powerful protective symbol in Greek mythology.
Back side: Likely depicts an owl, civic symbol, or possibly a bull (common on Amisos coins), though specific details would vary based on the exact period of minting.
Technical Details:
Material: Bronze
Denomination: Unit (basic denomination in the local currency system)
Minting date/period: 6th-1st century BCE (approximately 2,400-2,100 years ago)
Condition: Varies by specimen
Historical Significance:
This coin circulated during a pivotal period when Amisos flourished as a Greek outpost in what is now northern Turkey. Originally founded by colonists from Miletus and later resettled by Athenians who renamed it Peiraeus, the city eventually came under the control of the Kingdom of Pontus before Roman conquest in 71 BCE. The coin reflects the blending of Greek cultural influence with regional commercial needs in this strategic Black Sea port.
This bronze coin was minted in the ancient city of Amisos (modern-day Samsun, Turkey), an important Greek colony on the southern coast of the Black Sea. It was issued during the period when Amisos was either part of the Delian League or the Kingdom of Pontus.
Coin Description:
Front side: Features a Gorgon head (like Medusa), facing forward with a fierce expression, snakes for hair, and often shown with a protruding tongue—a powerful protective symbol in Greek mythology.
Back side: Likely depicts an owl, civic symbol, or possibly a bull (common on Amisos coins), though specific details would vary based on the exact period of minting.
Technical Details:
Material: Bronze
Denomination: Unit (basic denomination in the local currency system)
Minting date/period: 6th-1st century BCE (approximately 2,400-2,100 years ago)
Condition: Varies by specimen
Historical Significance:
This coin circulated during a pivotal period when Amisos flourished as a Greek outpost in what is now northern Turkey. Originally founded by colonists from Miletus and later resettled by Athenians who renamed it Peiraeus, the city eventually came under the control of the Kingdom of Pontus before Roman conquest in 71 BCE. The coin reflects the blending of Greek cultural influence with regional commercial needs in this strategic Black Sea port.
