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Orbis Collectibles

Tyras, Antoninus Pius, bronze coin — Nude Heracles standing facing (CN type 23889)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 138–161

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

Coin in bronze struck at Tyras under Antoninus Pius, dated AD 138–161. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 23889 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Laureate head of Antoninus Pius, right. Legend: ΑVΤ ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟΝ ϹЄΒ. Reverse: Nude Heracles standing facing, head, right, resting right hand on club, holding lion skin and the apples of the Hesperides. Legend: ΤΥΡΑΝΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 2.55 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 16–17 mm (from 2 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: Anochin, Antičnye monety Severnogo Pričernomor‘ja, Kiev 2011, nr. 71; Abramzon and Frolova, Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Russland. Staatliches Historisches Museum Moskau. Münzen des nördlichen Schwarzmeergebietes, Berlin-Boston 2019, nr. 93-100; Zograf, Monety Tiry, Moskva 1957, p. 86, nr. 54; Frolova, Katalog monet antičnoj Tiry, 2006, p. 63, nr. 4; Linked type corpus.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
6
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
5

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Tyras was an ancient Greek city founded around 600 BC by colonists from Miletus on the northern coast of the Black Sea, situated near the mouth of the Tyras River. Antoninus Pius served as Roman emperor from AD 138 until his death in 161, having been adopted as successor by Hadrian. His administration of the Roman Empire was characterised by relative peace and effective financial management.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
16–17 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
2.55 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Tyras
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Antoninus Pius

Design

Obverse type
Laureate head of Antoninus Pius, right.
Reverse type
Nude Heracles standing facing, head, right, resting right hand on club, holding lion skin and the apples of the Hesperides.
Obverse legend
ΑVΤ ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟΝ ϹЄΒ
Reverse legend
ΤΥΡΑΝΩΝ

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/23889
Type corpus identifier
CN type 23889

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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