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Orbis Collectibles

Amisos, Siglos — Owl facing with spread wings standing on shield (CN type 23060)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

c. 360–325 BC

Issuing entity

Amisos

Siglos in silver struck at Amisos, dated c. 360–325 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 23060 (period: Classical/Hellenistic Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Head of Hera left, wearing necklace, earrings and turreted stephane. Reverse: Owl facing with spread wings standing on shield. Legend: ΠΕΙΡΑ ΦΙΛΟ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 5.6 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 19.5 mm (from 2 recorded specimens). The corpus assigns the type to the Persian weight standard. Published references cited by the corpus: Price, Sylloge nummorum Graecorum 9 The British Museum 1. The Black Sea, 1993, nr. 1087-1088; Dalaison, Sylloge nummorum Graecorum. France 7. Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques. Paphlagonie, Pont et Arménie Mineure., Bordeaux 2015, nr. 1114-1115; Aulock and Franke, Sylloge nummorum graecorum Deutschland. Sammlung v. Aulock. Nachträge I. Pontus 6674-6790, Armenia Minor 6791-6792, Paphlagonien 6793-6877, Bithynien 6878-7190, Berlin 1967, nr. 6715; Waddington et al., Recueil général des monnaies grecques d'Asie Mineure. Pont et Paphlagenie 1.1, Paris 1925, p. 58, nr. 1.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
6
Photograph views
2
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

The siglos originated as an official silver coin of the Achaemenid Empire, which issued coinage from 520 BCE–450 BCE to 330 BCE alongside the gold daric, forming an early bimetallic standard. In addition to imperial mintages, related currency was issued by provincial governors stationed across Asia Minor. This silver siglos was produced by the issuing city of Amisos around c. 360–325 BC during the Classical or Hellenistic period on the Persian weight standard.

Physical characteristics

Material
silver
Denomination
Siglos
Recorded diameter
19.5 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
5.6 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Amisos
Authority type
City
Weight standard
Persian

Design

Obverse type
Head of Hera left, wearing necklace, earrings and turreted stephane.
Reverse type
Owl facing with spread wings standing on shield.
Reverse legend
ΠΕΙΡΑ ΦΙΛΟ

Identification

Period
Classical/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. 1 closely related CN type with the same mint, denomination and design is consolidated into this entry and listed under varieties.
Type corpus record
https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/23060
Type corpus identifier
CN type 23060

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

Varieties

  • CN type 23286

    Same mint, denomination and design (reverse legend ΠΕΙΡΑ ΜΥΛΛ); dated c. 360–325 BC. Consolidated into this entry

Research required

  • Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution
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