Hekte

Kyzikos dominated electrum coinage production in the Aegean during the sixth and fifth centuries, and its hektes circulated far beyond the Propontis — hoards recovered from Egypt, the Black Sea coast, and the Greek mainland confirm their role as a trusted international medium of exchange. The city's electrum was sourced from Lydia and alloyed with enough silver to produce a consistent pale gold, distinguishing Kyzikenian issues from the deeper-toned Lydian staters they competed with.

The series to which this piece belongs ran for well over a century, with the reverse tunny fish serving as the city's invariable anchor type — the only constant across hundreds of distinct obverse dies.