How did numismatists conclude what species of fish this is?

While posting over on @Aidan_()'s thread about Kyzikos coins with tripods, I became curious about something. The fish on this coin is described as a "tunny," which I take to refer to the little tunny, which is apparently a common fish in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

Now, I'm no ichthyologist, and maybe there's something I'm missing, but I don't see how anyone could identify what species of fish this is from looking at that fusiform shape below the tripod. Couldn't it just as easily have been some other species or just a stylized fish shape? How did numismatists conclude it was this species?


Greek AE 17
Mysia, Cyzicus, c. 400 BC - 280 BC or later 4.02 g; 17.3 mm
Obv: Head of Persephone, right.
Rev: KY/ZI either side of tripod; tunny fish below; plectrum in field, right.
Refs: BMC 15.37,136; Sear Greek 3861; c.f. SNG Cop 62.

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I wonder if they were able to tell based on other artefacts? Perhaps paintings or writings of what the local population ate? Just a thought. Or, if they were just basing it off the coin...perhaps they closed their eyes, opened a book of fish, and pointed to a random one

We don't have any coins with fish on them. Only a crab, a shrimp, and a dolphin.
Here is one of my favorite coins with dolphins:


Syracuse, Sicily
Hieron II AE19
274-216 BC
Obverse: Diademed head of Poseidon left, within border of dots
Reverse: IEΡΩ-NOΣ, trident head, with scrolls decoration between prongs; lotiform shaft, flanked by dolphins, ΛY below to left.

 

It may be that the tunny is one of the city emblems of Cyzicus, so it is assumed that the fish is a tuna. Other coins of theirs bear a tunny also.

 

I believe it is the BLOBBY Fish, @Roman Collector !


Mine is the famous OFF-FLAN Fish...


Mysia, Kyzicus
AR hemiobol
(0.4g)
480-450 BCE
Obv: Forepart of running boar left, tunny fish behind upward.
Rev: Head of roaring lion left within incuse square.
Sear 3850

 

I don't know how they came up with tunny, but if it is a symbol of the town that would make sense. I googled it and there are a variety of links saying "tuna" was a symbol of Cyzicus, going all the way back to the time of electrum staters.

https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/ancient-gold-coin-cyzicus/

 

That's a short but informative article! Thanks!

 

Oops, I just found mine that seems very similar to yours... (smaller vresion)


Mysia, Kyzikos
Æ12 1.2g, 6h; c. 400 BC - 3rd century BC.
Obv.: Head of Kore Soteira right, hair bound in sakkos.
Rev.: KY - ZIH; Tripod; above, crown; below, tunny fish.
SNG France 430; BMC 141-3. EDIT add: Sear Greek 3862
Ex: @John Anthony

 

That obverse portrait is very nice, especially on such a tiny flan! Sear lists the smaller flan size immediately after my type, so yours is Sear Greek 3862.

 

A celator's generic common fish, suitable for all occasions. If the city of Philadelphia (not the one in Asia Minor) issued such a coin it would be a carp, Memphis (not the one in Egypt) a channel catfish, Boston (not the one in Britain) a cod. Whatever you want it to be.

 

So tunny = tuna?

 

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Yes, but remember, you can tune a piano but you can't tuna fish.

 

Thank you! I actually have the Sear Greek reference book, but it is locked up right now. When I posted mine, I looked at your attribution and thought the same... my attribution was probably right after yours! Edited to add!

 

LOL, NNnnnnoooooooooooo....

 

Pretty much every coin of cyzicus has a tuna on it, it's likely just assumed. (Even coins of other fish have tuna on them!)
https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3594266

 

There was a great stand p comedy act by Robin Williams back in the 70's. He was discussing the ocean fisherman always capturing / killing Dolphins in their nets. He would jokingly say in a Dolphin's voice "I am NOT a Tuna". It was hilarious, but a very sad statement inadvertently catching the Dolphins (an intelligent species.)

To Robin Williams; saving the Dolphins... but NOT the Tuna:



FISH MONEY

China Zhou Dynasty 1046-256 BCE AE Fish Money 67mm 9.5g AB Coole Enc Chinese Coins 6920ff
Ex: Ken Dorney

 

I also have the tuna fish missing in action on a Kyzicos coin!

 

I think these Akragas Louisiana Cajun Seafood Boil coins are so cool...


Sicily Akragas AE Onkia 16mm 3.8g 425-406 BCE Eagle r fish (TUNNY???) fly - Crab conch SNG ANS 1062 var

 

Another ancients educational lesson learned thanks to all of you. Thanks for the post and discussion.