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Orbis Collectibles

Tyras, Antoninus Pius, bronze coin — Athena standing facing (CN type 23890)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 147–161

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

Coin in bronze struck at Tyras under Antoninus Pius, dated AD 147–161. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 23890 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Bare head of youthful Marcus Aurelius, right. Legend: ΒΗΡΙϹϹΙΜΟϹ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ. Reverse: Athena standing facing, head left, wearing long garment and helmet, holding patera in outstretched right hand and left hand resting on shield placed on ground; behind, a lance. Legend: ΤΥΡΑΝΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 4.38 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 19–20 mm (from 2 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: Anochin, Antičnye monety Severnogo Pričernomor‘ja, Kiev 2011, nr. 73; Abramzon and Frolova, Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Russland. Staatliches Historisches Museum Moskau. Münzen des nördlichen Schwarzmeergebietes, Berlin-Boston 2019, nr. 86-92; Zograf, Monety Tiry, Moskva 1957, p. 84, nr. 53; Frolova, Katalog monet antičnoj Tiry, 2006, p. 61-62, nr. 3; 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

This coin was struck at Tyras, an ancient Greek city founded around 600 BC by colonists from Miletus on the northern coast of the Black Sea, near the mouth of the Tyras River. It dates to the reign of Antoninus Pius, Roman emperor from AD 138 to 161. In 138, Antoninus adopted Marcus Aurelius as his son and heir, and this issue depicts Marcus Aurelius during the period preceding his accession as co-emperor in 161.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
19–20 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
4.38 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Tyras
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Antoninus Pius

Design

Obverse type
Bare head of youthful Marcus Aurelius, right.
Reverse type
Athena standing facing, head left, wearing long garment and helmet, holding patera in outstretched right hand and left hand resting on shield placed on ground; behind, a lance.
Obverse legend
ΒΗΡΙϹϹΙΜΟϹ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ
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/23890
Type corpus identifier
CN type 23890

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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