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Orbis Collectibles

Sinope, drachm — Quadripartite incuse square (CN type 23935)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

c. 425–410 BC

Issuing entity

Sinope

Drachm in silver struck at Sinope, dated c. 425–410 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 23935 (period: Classical Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Eagle head left above a dolphin left. Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square; two opposing quarters more deeply sunk. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 5.62 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 13–20 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). The corpus assigns the type to the Aeginetan weight standard. Published references cited by the corpus: Price, Sylloge nummorum Graecorum 9 The British Museum 1. The Black Sea, 1993, nr. 1367; 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. 6841.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
4
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
2

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

Historical context

This silver drachm was struck at Sinope during the Classical Period, dated to around 425–410 BC. Sinope was located on the Boztepe Peninsula and the isthmus of Cape Ince, situated on the northernmost edge of the Black Sea coast in the ancient region of Paphlagonia. The city issued the coin on the Aeginetan weight standard under its own civic authority.

Physical characteristics

Material
silver
Denomination
drachm
Recorded diameter
13–20 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
5.62 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Sinope
Authority type
City
Weight standard
Aeginetan

Design

Obverse type
Eagle head left above a dolphin left.
Reverse type
Quadripartite incuse square; two opposing quarters more deeply sunk.

Identification

Period
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.
Type corpus record
https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/23935
Type corpus identifier
CN type 23935

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

Research required

  • Legends not transcribed in the source corpus
  • Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution
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