Catalog
See full images - free registration
Continue with Google - no registration!
or register with email
Why register? Just to keep bots out of our catalog. Your email stays private - we will never share it or send you anything uninvited. We guarantee you that!
Hekte
| Issuer | Kyzikos |
|---|---|
| Year | 450 BC - 400 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Hekte (⅙) |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | A quadripartite incuse square divided into four equal recessed compartments by raised ridges meeting at the centre, the standard reverse type employed across the Kyzikene electrum hekte series. The surface of each quadrant displays a granular, slightly irregular texture resulting from the hammered striking technique. No legend or additional devices are present. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Kyzikos (Mysia) |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
Kyzikos dominated electrum coinage in the Aegean during the fifth century, issuing a vast and varied series of hektai that functioned as a de facto international trade currency across Greek, Persian, and Thracian markets simultaneously. The city's position on the Propontis made it a commercial clearinghouse, and its electrum was trusted precisely because Kyzikene issues were never debased — merchants could rely on consistent metal quality in ways they couldn't with many civic coinages.
The natural alloy composition varied piece to piece, as was inherent to electrum sourced from Lydian river deposits.