Kyzikos dominated the electrum coinage trade in the archaic period to a degree that made its issues effectively a regional reserve currency across the Black Sea littoral and into the Greek mainland. The city's access to natural electrum — likely sourced from rivers in the Lydian hinterland — gave it a production advantage that mints relying on refined alloys simply could not match. The hekte denomination, one-sixth of a stater, was the workhorse of that system.
H&L I#28 places this piece among the earliest Kyzikene issues, predating the more standardized tunny-fish series.
Kyzikos dominated the electrum coinage trade in the archaic period to a degree that made its issues effectively a regional reserve currency across the Black Sea littoral and into the Greek mainland. The city's access to natural electrum — likely sourced from rivers in the Lydian hinterland — gave it a production advantage that mints relying on refined alloys simply could not match. The hekte denomination, one-sixth of a stater, was the workhorse of that system.
H&L I#28 places this piece among the earliest Kyzikene issues, predating the more standardized tunny-fish series.