Hephaistia, bronze coin — Torch (CN type 19914)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
c. 276/261–167 BC
Issuing entity
ThraceCoin in bronze struck at Hephaistia in Thrace, dated c. 276/261–167 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 19914 (period: Hellenistic Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Diademed (?) male, youthful head, right. Reverse: Torch, between the two caps of the Dioscuri, each surmounted by star. Legend: ΗΦΑΙ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 4.01 g (mean of 3 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 16–18 mm (from 3 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: Hoover and Ashton, Handbook of Coins of the Islands: Adriatic, Ionian, Thracian, Aegean and Carpathian Seas (Excluding Crete and Cyprus): Sixth to First Centuries BC, Lancaster 2010, p. 60, nr. 285; Schwabacher, Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Copenhagen. The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals. Danish National Museum. Part 7: Thrace 2: Odessus - Sestos. Islands. Kings and Dynasts 7, Copenhagen 1943, nr. 979; Poole, BMC. Catalogue of Greek coins: the Tauric Chersonese, Sarmatia, Dacia, Moesia, Thrace, &c., Bologna 1979, p. 213, nr. 8; Sallet, Beschreibung der antiken Münzen I: Taurische Chersonesus, Sarmatien, Dacien, Pannonien, Moesien, Thracien, thracische Könige, Berlin 1888, p. 280, nr. 3.
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
Hephaistia, also known as Hephaestia, was an ancient Greek town situated on the northern shore of Lemnos, an island in the northern Aegean Sea. Named in honour of Hephaistos, the Greek god of metallurgy whose cult flourished there, the city previously served as the capital of Lemnos between the 8th and 6th centuries BCE. This bronze issue represents the civic coinage of the Hellenistic Period, struck between circa 276/261 and 167 BC.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Recorded diameter
- 16–18 mm (from 3 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 4.01 g (mean of 3 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Hephaistia
- Region
- Thrace
- Authority type
- City
Design
- Obverse type
- Diademed (?) male, youthful head, right.
- Reverse type
- Torch, between the two caps of the Dioscuri, each surmounted by star.
- Reverse legend
- ΗΦΑΙ
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/19914
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 19914
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- 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. 60, nr. 285
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 979
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographyp. 213, nr. 8
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographyp. 280, nr. 3
Research required
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution