Skip to content
Orbis Collectibles

Kyzikos, hekte — Quadripartite incuse square (CN type 19447)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

c. 600–550 BC

Issuing entity

Mysia

Hekte in electrum struck at Kyzikos in Mysia, dated c. 600–550 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 19447 (period: Archaic Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Harpy with four bent wings (two each visible above and below) flying left, holding a tunny by the tail in the raised right hand, the left hand extended with open palm. Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square; the area of the partial squares is different in height, the treatment rough. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 2.61 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 8.6 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). Published references cited by the corpus: Fritze, Die Elektronprägung von Kyzikos. Eine chronologische Studie, 1912, p. 3, nr. 24, pl. 1, pic. 25; Levante, Sylloge nummorum Graecorum. France. 5, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques. Mysie 5, Paris/Zürich 2001, nr. 204, pl. 12, pic. 204.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
4
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
2

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

Historical context

This electrum hekte was issued by the city of Kyzikos (Cyzicus) during the Archaic Period, dated to c. 600–550 BC. Cyzicus was an ancient Greek town situated in Mysia in Anatolia, located on the shoreward side of the Kapıdağ Peninsula (the classical Arctonnesus) in the Sea of Marmara, within present-day Turkey.

Physical characteristics

Material
electrum
Denomination
hekte
Recorded diameter
8.6 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
2.61 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Kyzikos
Region
Mysia
Authority type
City

Design

Obverse type
Harpy with four bent wings (two each visible above and below) flying left, holding a tunny by the tail in the raised right hand, the left hand extended with open palm.
Reverse type
Quadripartite incuse square; the area of the partial squares is different in height, the treatment rough.

Identification

Period
Archaic 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/19447
Type corpus identifier
CN type 19447

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
Can you source one of these? Submit a reference