Kyzikos, tetradrachm — Apollo with laurel wreath sitting left on the omphalos covered (CN type 20190)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
c. 300–250 BC
Issuing entity
MysiaTetradrachm in silver struck at Kyzikos in Mysia, dated c. 300–250 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 20190 (period: Hellenistic Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Head of Kore Soteira left with her hair tied up in a shawl (sakkos), ears of grain, and an earring. Legend: ΣΩΤΕΙΡΑΣ. Reverse: Apollo with laurel wreath sitting left on the omphalos covered with woolen bandages and standing on a base, turning his naked torso forward; in his outstretched right hand a patera or plectrum, his left arm resting on a cithara. Legend: ΚΥ-エΙ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 13.32 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 23.8–24.7 mm (from 2 recorded specimens). The corpus assigns the type to the reduced Rhodian weight standard.
Published references cited by the corpus: Fritze, Die Silberprägung von Kyzikos. Eine chronologische Studie, 1914, p. 47, nr. 31, pl. 6, pic. 9-10.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 3
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 1
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Originating in Ancient Greece in the late 6th century BC, the tetradrachm was a large silver denomination nominally equivalent to four drachmae. It became the standard trade currency of Classical Antiquity and was struck in vast quantities by diverse polities for state expenses and political messaging. Kyzikos (Cyzicus), an ancient Greek town situated in Mysia in Anatolia, issued this silver tetradrachm as a civic authority during the Hellenistic Period.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- silver
- Denomination
- tetradrachm
- Recorded diameter
- 23.8–24.7 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 13.32 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Kyzikos
- Region
- Mysia
- Authority type
- City
- Weight standard
- reduced Rhodian
Design
- Obverse type
- Head of Kore Soteira left with her hair tied up in a shawl (sakkos), ears of grain, and an earring.
- Reverse type
- Apollo with laurel wreath sitting left on the omphalos covered with woolen bandages and standing on a base, turning his naked torso forward; in his outstretched right hand a patera or plectrum, his left arm resting on a cithara.
- Obverse legend
- ΣΩΤΕΙΡΑΣ
- Reverse legend
- ΚΥ-エΙ
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/20190
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 20190
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. 47, nr. 31, pl. 6, pic. 9-10
Research required
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution