Apollonia Pontike, Obol — Incuse with four crustacean rotating left (CN type 21766)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
c. 512–465 BC
Issuing entity
ThraceObol in silver struck at Apollonia Pontike in Thrace, dated c. 512–465 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 21766 (period: Archaic/Classical Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Inverted anchor; left under stock four pellets. Reverse: Incuse with four crustacean rotating left, inbetween colliding embola, center dot. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 0.47 g (mean of 34 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 5.61–8 mm (from 33 recorded specimens). The corpus assigns the type to the Chian weight standard. Recorded findspots: Varna Region, Klimentovo (Климентово).
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 2
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
In antiquity, the site of modern Sozopol on the Black Sea coast was a prosperous Greek colony initially named Antheia and later known as Apollonia. In ancient Greek currency and weight systems, the obol served as a recognised denomination. Struck in Thrace during the Archaic to Classical period, between circa 512 and 465 BC, this silver coin represents the civic coinage issued by Apollonia Pontike.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- silver
- Denomination
- Obol
- Recorded diameter
- 5.61–8 mm (from 33 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 0.47 g (mean of 34 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Apollonia Pontike
- Region
- Thrace
- Authority type
- City
- Weight standard
- Chian
Design
- Obverse type
- Inverted anchor; left under stock four pellets.
- Reverse type
- Incuse with four crustacean rotating left, inbetween colliding embola, center dot.
Identification
- Period
- Archaic/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.
- Recorded findspots
- Varna Region, Klimentovo (Климентово)
- Type corpus record
- https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/21766
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 21766
- Source note
- The corpus record cites no printed literature for this type; it rests on recorded specimens.
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
- Research required
- 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
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Legends not transcribed in the source corpus
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution