Sestos, large denomination (bronze) — Demeter seated left on basket (CN type 11905)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
c. 200–100 BC
Issuing entity
ThraceLarge denomination (bronze) struck at Sestos in Thrace, dated c. 200–100 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 11905 (period: Hellenistic Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Diademed female head, left. Reverse: Demeter seated left on basket, wearing kalathos and holding ears of corn. Legend: ΣΗΣΤΙΑ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 5.42 g (mean of 5 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 18–20 mm (from 5 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: Fritze, Sestos. Die Menas-Inschrift und das Münzwesen der Stadt 1, 1907, p. 6, nr. 13, pl. 1,28; Sallet, Beschreibung der antiken Münzen I: Taurische Chersonesus, Sarmatien, Dacien, Pannonien, Moesien, Thracien, thracische Könige, Berlin 1888, p. 270, nr. 6; Poole, BMC. Catalogue of Greek coins: the Tauric Chersonese, Sarmatia, Dacia, Moesia, Thrace, &c., Bologna 1979, p. 199, nr. 12; Hoover, Handbook of coins of Macedon and its neighbors. Part II: Thrace, Skythia, and Taurike: sixth to first centuries BC, Lancaster, Pa. London 2017, p. 172, nr. 1644.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 6
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 4
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Sestos was an ancient city located in Thrace on the Thracian Chersonese peninsula, situated along the European coast of the Hellespont across from Abydos and near modern Eceabat in Turkey. In Greek mythology, the city was famed as the home of Hero from the tale of Hero and Leander. This bronze civic issue was struck by Sestos during the Hellenistic period, dated between c. 200 and 100 BC.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Denomination
- large denomination (bronze)
- Recorded diameter
- 18–20 mm (from 5 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 5.42 g (mean of 5 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Sestos
- Region
- Thrace
- Authority type
- City
Design
- Obverse type
- Diademed female head, left.
- Reverse type
- Demeter seated left on basket, wearing kalathos and holding ears of corn.
- Reverse legend
- ΣΗΣΤΙΑ
Identification
- Period
- Hellenistic Period
- How to identify
- Check the mint name or ethnic, the reverse type and the legend together, then compare weight and module; types from the same mint often differ only in legend arrangement, magistrate names or control marks.
- Type corpus record
- https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/11905
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 11905
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Recorded
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Recorded
- Mint or printer
- Recorded
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Recorded
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographyp. 6, nr. 13, pl. 1,28
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographyp. 270, nr. 6
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographyp. 199, nr. 12
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographyp. 172, nr. 1644
Research required
- No rights-cleared photograph attached yet