Spink
Auction 20120 13 Feb 2020
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
(x) Thracian Islands, Moesia, Istros (late 5th Century BC), cast Æ Wheel Coins, Proto-money Denomination 'set' (3), 15mm., 2.29g, 13mm., 1.52g and 8mm., 0.90g, all coins with a wheel (or solar disk) with four spokes and a raised central hub, rev. IΣT across field (SNG [Black Sea] 220; 221-222; 223-224), all very fine or near so (3).
Provenance
From the Nomos Brasiliana Collection (NB012, 013, 014)
The Milesian colonies of Olbia, Borysthenes, Istros, Odessos, and Apollonia were once central points of exchange and trade on the Black sea coast between the Greeks and local Scythian and Thracian populations from the 7th Century BC. With the invention of coinage in Asia Minor, a few types of 'proto-money' were introduced including the iconic 'dolphins', and the scarcer 'arrowheads' and these 'wheel-coins', all cast in copper. All were originally attributed to Olbia, but recent find evidence suggests the latter were a product of Istros and Apollonia. These pieces remained in circulation in the west Pontic area for about two centuries, until the mainstream circulation of struck coinage.
Estimate: £40 - £60
Provenance
From the Nomos Brasiliana Collection (NB012, 013, 014)
The Milesian colonies of Olbia, Borysthenes, Istros, Odessos, and Apollonia were once central points of exchange and trade on the Black sea coast between the Greeks and local Scythian and Thracian populations from the 7th Century BC. With the invention of coinage in Asia Minor, a few types of 'proto-money' were introduced including the iconic 'dolphins', and the scarcer 'arrowheads' and these 'wheel-coins', all cast in copper. All were originally attributed to Olbia, but recent find evidence suggests the latter were a product of Istros and Apollonia. These pieces remained in circulation in the west Pontic area for about two centuries, until the mainstream circulation of struck coinage.
Estimate: £40 - £60