Catalog
| Issuer | Olbia |
|---|---|
| Year | 240 BC - 230 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Value | |
| Currency | Drachm |
| Composition | Copper |
| Weight | 8.44 g |
| Diameter | 23 mm |
| Thickness | |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Engraver(s) | |
| In circulation to | |
| Reference(s) | Anokhin#425 Sea#599 , Frolova&Abramzon#1467-1475 |
| Obverse description | Head of Demeter left, wearing grain wreath; to right, head of Perseus left. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | |
| Obverse lettering | |
| Reverse description | Axe and bow in bowcase; monogram to left. |
| Reverse script | Greek |
| Reverse lettering | OΛBIO ΔΙΟΣ |
| Edge | |
| Mint | |
| Mintage |
ND (240 BC - 230 BC) - - |
| Numisquare ID | 9247190060 |
| Additional information |
Historical Context: This Æ Dios coin, issued by the Greek colony of Olbia Pontica (240-230 BC), signifies a vital period for the Black Sea city. Its copper composition facilitated local commerce, crucial for Olbia's port economy. The inscription "Dios" (ΔΙΟΣ) refers to Zeus, likely Zeus Soter, the city's primary patron deity. This invoked Olbia's Hellenic identity, seeking divine protection amidst the complex geopolitical landscape of the mid-3rd century BC, where Scythian and Hellenistic influences converged.
Artistry: The 23mm copper piece typically features a laureate head of Zeus on the obverse, rendered in a distinctive local Hellen