Struck during the turbulence of the late Hellenistic world, this AE23 bronze of Oeniadae captures a city asserting identity through myth, religion, and raw symbolic power.
The obverse presents Zeus, king of the gods—an unmistakable declaration of divine authority and civic protection. The reverse depicts a man-headed bull, a potent river-god image associated with strength, fertility, and control of waterways vital to Oeniadae’s survival and prosperity. These types speak directly to a polis rooted in landscape and legend, where rivers meant trade, defense, and life itself.
Minted circa 219–211 BC, amid shifting alliances and regional conflict, this bronze was everyday money—handled by citizens, merchants, and soldiers—yet executed in fine style, with balanced composition and expressive detail that elevate it well beyond utilitarian coinage.
Well-struck and attractively preserved, this example balances strong eye appeal with genuine ancient character. The prestigious Merrill Gibson Collection provenance adds an additional layer of confidence and collectability.
A compelling acquisition for collectors of Greek bronze, mythological types, or evocative city-state coinage where art, religion, and geography converge in metal.
Struck during the turbulence of the late Hellenistic world, this AE23 bronze of Oeniadae captures a city asserting identity through myth, religion, and raw symbolic power.
The obverse presents Zeus, king of the gods—an unmistakable declaration of divine authority and civic protection. The reverse depicts a man-headed bull, a potent river-god image associated with strength, fertility, and control of waterways vital to Oeniadae’s survival and prosperity. These types speak directly to a polis rooted in landscape and legend, where rivers meant trade, defense, and life itself.
Minted circa 219–211 BC, amid shifting alliances and regional conflict, this bronze was everyday money—handled by citizens, merchants, and soldiers—yet executed in fine style, with balanced composition and expressive detail that elevate it well beyond utilitarian coinage.
Well-struck and attractively preserved, this example balances strong eye appeal with genuine ancient character. The prestigious Merrill Gibson Collection provenance adds an additional layer of confidence and collectability.
A compelling acquisition for collectors of Greek bronze, mythological types, or evocative city-state coinage where art, religion, and geography converge in metal.
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