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Orbis Collectibles

Kyzikos, stater — Incuse square of mill-sail pattern (CN type 12345)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

c. 475–410 BC

Issuing entity

Mysia

Stater in electrum struck at Kyzikos in Mysia, dated c. 475–410 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 12345 (period: Classical Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Nude, clean-shaven Perseus with winged Phrygian cap and a cloak (chlamys) around his shoulders squatting right with his head turned back. In his right hand he holds a sickle, and in his left the head of Medusa. Below, a tunny right. Reverse: Incuse square of mill-sail pattern. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 16.01 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 16.3–17.6 mm (from 4 recorded specimens).

Published references cited by the corpus: Greenwell, The electrum coinage of Cyzicus, London 1887, p. 89, nr. 74; Fritze, Die Elektronprägung von Kyzikos. Eine chronologische Studie, 1912, p. 12, nr. 162, pl. 5, pic. 10; Mani Hurter and Liewald, Neue Nominale in der Elektronprägung von Kyzikos, Bern 2004, p. 34, nr. 162; Touratsoglou, Mint of Kyzikos. The electrum production. Iconographic Study 34, 2016, p. 28, nr. 104; Levante, Sylloge nummorum Graecorum. France. 5, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques. Mysie 5, Paris/Zürich 2001, nr. 311, pl. 16, pic. 311.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
7
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
5

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Cyzicus, also known as Kyzikos, was an ancient Greek town in Mysia, Anatolia, situated on the shoreward side of the Kapıdağ Peninsula. The stater was an ancient coin denomination used widely across various regions of Greece and neighbouring lands. Kyzikos struck this electrum stater during the Classical period, between c. 475 and 410 BC, functioning as the city's civic issuing authority.

Physical characteristics

Material
electrum
Denomination
stater
Recorded diameter
16.3–17.6 mm (from 4 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
16.01 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Kyzikos
Region
Mysia
Authority type
City

Design

Obverse type
Nude, clean-shaven Perseus with winged Phrygian cap and a cloak (chlamys) around his shoulders squatting right with his head turned back. In his right hand he holds a sickle, and in his left the head of Medusa. Below, a tunny right.
Reverse type
Incuse square of mill-sail pattern.

Identification

Period
Classical 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/12345
Type corpus identifier
CN type 12345

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

Research required

  • Legends not transcribed in the source corpus
  • Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution
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