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Orbis Collectibles

Gambrion, Gorgion, drachm — Forepart of butting bull (CN type 20554)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

first half of the 4th century BC

Issuing entity

Mysia

Drachm in silver struck at Gambrion in Mysia under Gorgion, dated first half of the 4th century BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 20554 (period: Classical Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo, right. Reverse: Forepart of butting bull, right. Legend: ΓΟΡΓΙ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 3.16 g (mean of 6 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 11–14.6 mm (from 6 recorded specimens). The corpus assigns the type to the reduced Chian weight standard. Published references cited by the corpus: Six, Monnaies grecques, inédites et incertaines. 14, 1894, p. 315, nr. 1; Babelon, Traité des monnaies grecques et romaines II.2, Paris 1910, p. 93-94, nr. 47, pl. 88, pic. 9; Levante, Sylloge nummorum Graecorum. France. 5, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques. Mysie 5, Paris/Zürich 2001, nr. 895, pl. 47, pic. 895; Bloesch, Griechische Münzen in Winterthur, Winterthur 1987, nr. 2527, pl. 113, pic. 2527.

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

Gambrion was an ancient town in Mysia and Aeolis, situated on a hill in the Bakırçay valley quite close to Pergamum. The settlement is mentioned in the Hellenica of Xenophon, which describes the region in 399 BCE. At that period, Gorgion, son of Gongylos, ruled both Gambrion and Palaegambrium, under whose authority this civic coinage was produced during the Classical Period in the first half of the 4th century BC.

Physical characteristics

Material
silver
Denomination
drachm
Recorded diameter
11–14.6 mm (from 6 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
3.16 g (mean of 6 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Gambrion
Region
Mysia
Authority type
City
Weight standard
reduced Chian
Issuing authority
Gorgion

Design

Obverse type
Laureate head of Apollo, right.
Reverse type
Forepart of butting bull, right.
Reverse legend
ΓΟΡΓΙ

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/20554
Type corpus identifier
CN type 20554

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

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