Aeolis, situated on the western coast of Asia Minor, was arguably the most significant central trading hub in the Hellenistic era. While its capital city was Kyme, Smyrna, the largest city, enjoyed the most prominence in global commerce. The region gained fame through its portrayal in Homer's The Odyssey, where Odysseus visits the island of Aeolia following his encounter with the Cyclops.

The substantial volume of imports and exports led to a high demand for reliable and high-quality coinage, particularly larger denominations like Tetradrachms and Dekadrachms, used for bulk transactions. Tetradrachms were extensively manufactured in Kyme and produced in comparable quantities in other cities such as Myrina and Aigai.

Noteworthy about these coins is the technique employed in their production. The Aeolians perfected a method known as the "Stephanophoric type," which involved striking the coins with a "cupped die" resembling a bowl. This process resulted in coins with a raised rim, addressing the issue of off-center coinage. The Stephanophoric method, although short-lived and limited to specific regions, was regarded by expert author Doug Smith as a “means to simplify the centering of coins”. However, based on their appearance, one can infer that the raised rim also facilitated easier stacking. Given the large quantities of liquid shipments, supplies, and trade goods passing through Aeolian cities, efficient stacking was crucial, and flat coins did not fulfill this requirement.

            The region of Aeolis comprises nine city-states, with the majority of these states issuing coins only during the Roman occupation. The central hubs for coinage were, of course, the largest states. Staters were minted in the Archaic period, perhaps from Kyme and one other state, in the 6th century BC.

Aegae

            Aegae has a similar environment to its sister city Temnos. The remains of the city were discovered by Ramsay, Reinach, and Baltazzi who visited the site in 1881. Excavations of the temple, theater, stadium, and market were done in 1889 by Bohn and Schuchhardt.

            The history of Aegae stems back nearly 2500 years. Although they remained neutral in escaping Perian rule, the city state has been found in Athenian tribute lists; in which the inhabitants of Aegae were required to pay “dues to the Olympians' '. Aegae went through a single bloody period, where Polybius records the state suffered in a war between “Attalus I and Prussias II”. Herotodus hints at the archaic age of Aegae, as “it was one of the old Aeolic States” (Herototus, i. 149), where he observed that the wide territory of the city was not a good place for politics or commerce.

 

Archaic Period

            The earliest coinage of Aegae could be a single electrum piece with a goat’s head on the obverse. These coins were found in an unknown hoard in the region and cataloged as “uncertain”. It was only when Head and Borrel published their discoveries in the Numismatic Chronicle in 1875 that we got the description of Aegae. There is no conclusive evidence these coins come from the city, but the coins were “discovered with a  few others between Myrina and Kyme”. (Numismatic Chronicle, 1875, p. 293).

I

 

Intermediate Period

           

            According to Warwick Wroth, in a 1964 catalog of “Greek Coins in the British Museum”, Aegae was one of the first states to issue so-called “spread” Tetradrachms in the second century BC. The principal divinity of Aegae is Apollo–on these later coins it is perhaps Apollo Chresterios. The depiction of Zeus and Athena on the reverse is probably due to Pergamum cultural influence. The process of cultural assimilation was common practice in both the Greek and Roman worlds.

 

160-150 BC

*1. 16.70  gms.

AR Tetradrachm, ca. 160-150 BC. Obverse:  Laureate head of Apollo right, quiver and tip of bow ending in swan's head over shoulder; Reverse: Zeus standing left, holding vertical scepter and eagle, monogram in inner left field, all within oak wreath.

SNG von Aulock-1594.

 

150-145 BC

 

2. 16.70 gms.

AR Tetradrachm, ca. 150-145 BC. Obverse:  Laureate head of Apollo right, quiver and tip of bow ending in swan's head over shoulder; Reverse: Zeus standing left, holding vertical scepter and eagle, monogram in inner left field, all within oak wreath.

SNG Cop-6.

 

*heavy planchets exist weighing upwards of 17.5 gms. (See Baldwin’s (Markov & M&M) Auctions Ltd, NY sale IX, lot #95).

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Kyme

            Kyme was the largest and most populated city in Aeolia. In the earliest days, the town partnered with lesbos to create nearly three dozen colonies in the area. The area of Kyme has been excavated since around 1881, where M. Baltazzi and M.S. Reinach began excavating the necropolis. Today, the area still yields treasures, especially coinage.

           

 

 

Archaic Period

            In the early 6th century BC, the coinage of Kyme began. The earliest proven coins of Kyme, bearing the name KYMAION or a version of it, have been dated to the time of the Persian wars in 480 BC (BMC Forni Pl. xix; 8-9). Notably, coins found in the Santorin hoard, featuring the likeness of a horse, are attributed to Kyme due to the location of their discovery. However, it remains uncertain whether these coins were minted in Kyme or if the city had even been named as such during the time of their production. Historical records detailing the previous occupants, if any, of the city of Kyme before the Trojan Wars are scarce. It is suggested that these coins might have been issued under the Troad government, and it's probable that many of them were minted in the 7th century. If these coins were indeed minted in Kyme, they likely originated during a period when animal types held significance, as later coins bear the likeness of an eagle. It has been suggested that the forepart of a horse on the obverse connects to the sea-god Poseidon. If true, it could connect these archaic coins to the later coins issued with Poseidon during the Imperial age. Later coinage proved to be of Kyme features a horse accompanied by a vase monogram.

Electrum coins from Kyme do exist, and they were probably minted before 500 BC (Mr. Head's Historia Numorum, p. 479). Due to vague details surrounding all Archaic coins of Kyme, it remains uncertain to conclusively attribute them to the city-state.

            On fractional coins, the likeness of an eagle is depicted with an incuse (value marker) on the reverse. It is apparent that the silver fractionals were issued in more abundance than the early Staters and electrum coinage.

            According to some sources, it was Hermodike, the wife of Midas, who first introduced coinage to Kyme. Agamemnon who was king of Kyme and Argos perhaps had a daughter named Demodike who is a possible affiliate to the original invention of coinage.

            In the later Archaic period, Kyme contributed substantially to Athenian Democracy. During this time in the 4th century BC, around 450 BC, there seems to be a sudden halt in coinage. The transition to Athenian Owls as the main coinage of the Athenian Democracy could be the reason for the abandonment of the coinage of Kyme. Nearly a century later, however, coinage appears to resume at the same pace as it was left off. This created a series of dilemmas surrounding the state of Kyme. Multiple numismatists have concluded that it was a simple adoption of coinage minted in Athens. I take it a step further, concluding that the state of Kyme issued coins bearing the likeness of Athens as imitation pieces. There are numerous coin hoards attributable to the area of Kyme, which consist of imitations of Athenian owls. One hoard, believed to have been discovered in the region of Konya, Turkey, is said to consist of Flament Group II and III Tetradrachms. Based on this data, it is reasonable to consider the closing date for the hoard's burial to be during the last decade of the fifth century. Another hoard, this one consisting of imitations of Owls dating to the 5th century BC, found in 1963, it consisted of hundreds of other denominations and regional types, probably buried around 460 BC near Izmir, Turkey ( “An Inventory of Greek Coin Hoards” ANS-1182, 1973). These imitations are distinct, and have characteristics such as a narrower flan, wider eyes, and a decreased weight to about 15-16 grams.

 

 

550-500 BC

*1/A. 11.74 gms.

AR Stater, ca. 550-500 BC. Obverse:  Forepart of horse right; Reverse: Two incuse square punches of unequal size, both with stellate patterns.

Many coins will come with weak obverses. 10-20 known examples.

 

1/B.1 11.95 gms.

AR Stater, ca. 520 BC. Obverse:  Forepart of horse left; Reverse: Two incuse square punches of unequal size, both with stellate patterns (palmetes and flowers?).

 

2/B.2.

AR Stater, ca. 520 BC. Obverse:  Forepart of horse left (or right); Reverse: Two incuse square punches of unequal size, both with stellate patterns (palmetes and flowers?), smaller one slightly off center. Typically the same obv. die as 1/A.

 

 

 

1/A

 

1/B.1

2/B.2

 

 

Coins minted around 495 BC

 

EL Stater, ca. 495 BC. Obverse:  Free horse galloping to the left, underneath ivy leaf; Reverse: Quadripartite incuse with differently filled partial squares.

SNG von Aulock-7798. Two examples known that can be attributable to Kyme.

 

4.

EL Trite(?), ca. 495 BC. Obverse: Bridled head of Horse right; Reverse: Rough incuse square.

 

Trihemiobol, ca. 495 BC. Obverse: Bare head of Horse right; Reverse: Rough incuse square.

 

5/B.

1/24 Stater, ca/ 480 BC. Obverse: Bare head of Eagle left (or right); Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square.

 

 

3

4

5/A

5/B

 

*41 Aeginetic Staters found in the Santorin Hoard in 1821 (Wroth in Num. Chron., 1884, pp. 270-272). “These coins, sourced from the Payne Knight, Borrell, Woodhouse, and Bank of England Collections, are most likely the actual specimens from the hoard. While the attribution to Cyme is highly plausible and supported by Head (Hist. Num., p. 479) and Catal. Ionia (pp. xxxiii.-xxxv.), it cannot be considered completely certain.”

 

“The peculiar form of incuse seen on these coins seems unique to Asia Minor and the neighboring islands, as evidenced by the archaic coins of Chios and Cos described by Greenwell in Num. Chron., 1890, pp. 18, 19; pl. ii., 13, 16. Cyme, being an important center of colonization in early times, would likely have had its own currency. Interestingly, the half horse depicted on these archaic coins is also frequently found on later money issued by Cyme” (Greek Coins of the British Museum).

 

It is worth noting that the earliest inscribed coins of Kyme, dating back to approximately 480 B.C., do not bear a horse but rather an eagle's head as their sole type.

 

Intermediate Period

350-300 BC

3. 5.40 gms. Magistrate APISTO*O. (Apostolos?).

AR Didrachm-Stater, ca. 350-320 BC. Obverse: Eagle standing right, with wings closed and head turned to left; Reverse: Forepart of a horse to right.

 

*4/A. 5.70 gms. Magistrate ΘΕΥΓΕΝΗΣ (Theugenes).

AR Didrachm-Stater, ca. 350-300 BC. Obverse: Eagle standing right, with wings closed and head turned to left; Reverse: Forepart of a horse to right.

Less than 30 known examples.

 

4/B. Unknown magistrate.

AR Didrachm-Stater, ca. 350-300 BC. Obverse: Eagle standing right, with wings closed and head turned to left; Reverse: Forepart of a horse to right.

Less than 30 known examples.

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*The obverse legend sometimes differs from ΚΥΜΑΙΟΝ. The reverse legend sometimes differs from ΘΕΥΓΕΝΗΣ. There are three known magistrates for the overall type.

 

 

Imperial Period

165-143/2 BC

*not in alphabetical order, rather the coins are placed in order by date.

5/A. 16.75 gms. Magistrate KAΛΛIAΣ (Kallias).

AR Tetradrachm, ca. 165-155 BC. Obverse: Head of the Amazon Cyme right, hair bound with taenia; Reverse: Horse standing right, left foreleg raised, one handled cup below; all within laurel wreath.

SNG Cop-103.

 

5/B. 16.75 gms. Magistrate KAΛΛIAΣ (Kallias).

AR Tetradrachm, ca. 155-143 BC. Obverse: Head of the Amazon Cyme right, hair bound with taenia; Reverse: Horse standing right, left foreleg touching one handled cup below; all within laurel wreath.

SNG Cop-103.

 

*Coins are minted using the reduced Attic weight to accommodate inflation. The significance of the one handled cup, called a kantharos, is its importance in rituals to the god Dionysos.

 

6. 16.75 gms. Magistrate ΜΗΤΡΟΦΑΝΗΣ (Metrophanes).

AR Tetradrachm, ca. 165-143/2 BC. Obverse: Head of the Amazon Cyme right, hair bound with taenia; Reverse: Horse standing right, left foreleg touching one handled cup below; all within laurel wreath.

SNG Cop-104. 

 

 

7. 16.75 gms. Magistrate HPAKΛEIΔHΣ (Herakleides).

AR Tetradrachm, ca. 155-143/2 BC. Obverse: Head of the Amazon Cyme right, hair bound with taenia; Reverse: Horse standing right, left foreleg touching eagle on thunderbolt; one handed cup below horse, all within laurel wreath.

SNG Cop-105.

 

8. 16.8-17.0 gms. Magistrate EYKTHMΩN (Eukimon).

AR Tetradrachm, ca. 160-143 BC. Obverse: Head of the Amazon Cyme right, hair bound with taenia; Reverse: Horse standing right, left foreleg touching one handled cup below; all within laurel wreath.

 

9. 16.9-17.0 gms. Magistrate ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ (Demitrios).

AR Tetradrachm, ca. 160-140 BC. Obverse: Head of the Amazon Cyme right, hair bound with taenia; Reverse: Horse standing right, left foreleg touching one handled cup below; all within laurel wreath.

BMC 112.76.

 

10. 16.75 gms. Magistrate ΟΛΥΜΠΙΟΣ (Olympios).

AR Tetradrachm, ca. 160-140 BC. Obverse: Head of the Amazon Cyme right, hair bound with taenia; Reverse: Horse standing right, left foreleg raised, one handled cup below; all within laurel wreath.

BMC 112.80.

 

11. 16.60 gms. Magistrate ΣΤΡΑΤΩΝ (Straton).

AR Tetradrachm, ca. 160-140 BC. Obverse: Head of the Amazon Cyme right, hair bound with taenia; Reverse: Horse standing right, left foreleg raised touching one handled cup below; all within laurel wreath.

Very Rare.

 

12. 16.4-16.5 gms. Magistrate ΑΜΦΙΤΡΥΩΝ (Amphirtyon).

AR Tetradrachm, ca. 160-140 BC. Obverse: Head of the Amazon Cyme right, hair bound with taenia; Reverse: Horse standing right, left foreleg raised, one handled cup below; all within laurel wreath.

 

13. 16.4-16.5 gms. Magistrate ΦIΛOΔOΞOΣ (Philodos).

AR Tetradrachm, ca. 160/5?-140 BC. Obverse: Head of the Amazon Cyme right, hair bound with taenia; Reverse: Horse standing right, left foreleg raised, one handled cup below; all within laurel wreath.

Very Rare.

5/A

6

8

 

Alexandrine Issues

9. 17.20 gms. Magistrate var..

AR Tetradrachm, ca. 215-200 BC. Obverse: Herakles right wearing lion skin; Reverse: Zeus seated left on throne, holding eagle; monograms below.

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List of common monograms for Kyme Tetradrachm:

 

 

 

 

 Article By Colby J. Abele