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Orbis Collectibles

Olbia, bronze coin — Tyche standing left (CN type 23779)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 196/197

Issuing entity

Olbia Pontica

Coin in bronze struck at Olbia, dated AD 196/197. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 23779 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Zeus enthroned right, holding sceptre and an uncertain object. Legend: *ΑΡ* *ΚΑ*Λ ΤΟ Δ. Reverse: Tyche standing left, wearing kalathos, holding rudder with right hand and cornucopia in left arm. Legend: ΟΛΒΙΟΠΟΛΙ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 5.85 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 21 mm (from 2 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: Anochin, Antičnye monety Severnogo Pričernomor‘ja, Kiev 2011, nr. 551; Anochin, Monety antičnych gorodov Severo-Zapadnogo Pričernomor'ja, Kiev 1989, nr. 384; Abramzon and Frolova, Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Russland. Staatliches Historisches Museum Moskau. Münzen des nördlichen Schwarzmeergebietes, Berlin-Boston 2019, nr. 2850-2862; Linked type corpus.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
5
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

Pontic Olbia was an ancient Hellenic city situated on the shore of the Southern Bug estuary, established in the 7th century BC by colonists from Miletus. Its harbour functioned as one of the primary emporia on the Black Sea, facilitating the export of cereals, fish, and slaves to Greece as well as the import of Attic goods to Scythia. This bronze issue was struck by the city authority of Olbia during the Roman Imperial period, dated to AD 196/197.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
21 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
5.85 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Olbia
Authority type
City

Design

Obverse type
Zeus enthroned right, holding sceptre and an uncertain object.
Reverse type
Tyche standing left, wearing kalathos, holding rudder with right hand and cornucopia in left arm.
Obverse legend
*ΑΡ* *ΚΑ*Λ ΤΟ Δ
Reverse legend
ΟΛΒΙΟΠΟΛΙ

Identification

Period
Roman Imperial 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/23779
Type corpus identifier
CN type 23779

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

Research required

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