Istros, the Greek colony at the mouth of the Danube, was one of the earliest Greek settlements on the Black Sea coast — founded by Miletus around the seventh century BC. By the late second century, the city operated under increasing Pontic pressure as Mithridates VI expanded his influence across the western Black Sea. Small civic bronzes like this one continued to circulate locally through that transition, filling the gap left by the declining output of larger silver issues.
Istros, the Greek colony at the mouth of the Danube, was one of the earliest Greek settlements on the Black Sea coast — founded by Miletus around the seventh century BC. By the late second century, the city operated under increasing Pontic pressure as Mithridates VI expanded his influence across the western Black Sea. Small civic bronzes like this one continued to circulate locally through that transition, filling the gap left by the declining output of larger silver issues.