Skepsis was a town in Troas, Asia Minor. It was found on the upper waters of the Aisepos River or north-east of Kebren, on the Scamander river. It was atleast at the foot of Mount Ida. Around the mid-5th century B.C. Skepsis started to mint silver coins based on the drachm and it's fractions. On some of the autonomous silver coinage, ca. 450 BC, coins started to bear the letters NE or N. Dr. Imhoof-Blumer thinks that these letters could mean 'ΝΕΑ' (as in New) Skepsis, since it is mentioned by Strabo that the original home of the Skepians was actually Palae-Skepsis. Barclay Head however argues that there is no evidence that this town was ever formally called "Nea Skepsis". He suggests that the letters NE could be from the town of 'Neandria', nearby Skepsis (see the map). This would mean that Skepsis struck coinage in some sort of alliance or Homoneia with Neandria. Neandria however did not strike any coins indicating a Homoneia with Skepsis which makes this a bit strange. A clear explanation can therefore not be fully given. Skepsis mainly struck coins bearing on the obverse a fore-part or a part of a winged horse, and on the reverse a fir-tree. The horse most probably is Pegasos. The tree is sometimes called a palm by numismatists, but is actually a type of conifer, most probably a fir. It is most likely a tree from the forest of Mount Ida where Skepsis is located, no mythological significance is known of the tree. Troas, Skepsis. AR Hemiobol. Circa 450 B.C. Homoneia with Neandria (?) Obverse: ΣΚ Head of horse or Pegasos (?) to right. Reverse: N-E (retrograde). Fig-Tree within linear square border within dotted square border, all within incuse square. Reference: BMC -. Cf. SNG Copenhagen 469. 0.31g; 8mm These Homoneia coinage were struck in several denominations of silver. Mostly drachms and hemidrachms, in lesser amounts obols, and in even lesser amount hemiobols, such as my coin above, which makes this fraction very rare. Please share your coins of Skepsis, Neandria and any Homoneia / alliance coins of other cities in the Greek world or Asia Minor!
An interesting coin and harmony between the two cities! Here's a Skepsis in AE - I have assumed the Σ - Κ meant ΣKepsis Troas, Skepsis, AE, 4th century BC, 1.3g, 9.5mm Obv: Rhyton with forepart of Pegasos left Rev: Σ - Κ, fir tree within linear square border Notes: more on this coin - Aristotle's Library and a Coin of Troas
Very cool new piece of silver from a very interesting place! Here's my only bronze of Skepsis with a party rhyton:
Interesting post...the "NE" caught my attention because I have this countermark that I have never been able to track down. It might be Roman Provincial and so a bit later than the OP info. But I keep hoping:
I was hoping for your response since you started to collect coinage of Asia Minor. Nice coin and indeed Σ - Κ must be from Skepsis, that atleast would make sense. Thanks @Ryro, nice piece you got there! Very interesting countermark. Indeed I would think it is a Roman Provincial or an autonomous coin struck in the beginning of Roman occupation. I suppose the countermark is Roman aswell.
Is there a link between the concept of Homoneia as seen on archaic Greek coinage & the goddess Homonoia as seen on Roman provincial coinage like the coin pictured below ? Thrace, Augusta Traiana. Septimius Severus, AD 193-211. AE 15.51 gm, 27 mm, 12 h. Reverse: Goddess Homonoia with modius, holding a cornucopia & patera, sacrificing over a fire altar. Varbanov 993.
