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!
Hemidrachm
| Issuer | Methymna |
|---|---|
| Year | 450 BC - 379 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Drachm |
| 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 | Helmeted head of Athena facing left, wearing a close-fitting Attic helmet; the facial features are rendered in archaic style with a prominent nose and strong jaw. The helmet covers the skull and nape, with a visible cheek guard. The overall style is characteristic of Lesbian mint production of the fifth and early fourth centuries BC, with bold, slightly rough engraving typical of hammered coinage of this region. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | M A (Translation: Mithymna) |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
Methymna was the second city of Lesbos, perpetually overshadowed by Mytilene yet distinct enough in its civic identity to maintain an independent coinage well into the fourth century. The city sided with Athens during the Peloponnesian War — notably refusing to join the Mytilenean revolt of 428 BC — a loyalty that bought it continued autonomy while its neighbor suffered the consequences of defection.
HGC 6, 898 is among the scarcer autonomous issues from the northern Aegean island mints, with surviving specimens turning up almost exclusively in Turkish hoard material.