Kyme (also Cyme or Kymi) is one of the old Aeolic towns mentioned by Herodotus, and Strabo refers to it as the largest of the Aeolian cities,[1] which were located on the western coastline of Asia Minor. Aeolis is not a geographic term but a collective name for the cities in the region which were founded by the Aeolians, a branch of the Hellenic peoples. The twelve cities were grouped in the Aeolian League; these were Temnos, Smyrna, Pitane, Neonteichos, Aegirusa, Notium, Cilla or Killa, Kyme, Gryneum, Larissa, Myrina, and Aegae.[2] Strabo, the ancient geographer, locates Kyme north of the Hermus river on the Asia Minor coastline,[3] modern-day "Nemrut Limanı."[4] Map of the western coastline of Asia Minor. After Caliniuc since Putzger & Westermann atlases (Atlas zur Weltgeschichte, Stier, H.E., dir., 1985). Used by permission through Wikimedia Commons. The earliest coins bearing the name of the city are silver pieces dating from about the time of the Persian wars, 480 BC. The city issued autonomous coinage regularly from 350 BC until it fell under the Roman Empire in 133 BC. In the Roman imperial period, it served as a provincial mint from the reigns of Nero through Gallienus.[5] The autonomous coins of Kyme present three principal types, each of which may lay claim to be representative symbols of the city. These types are the eagle or eagle's head, the horse or half-horse, and the vase with one handle.[6] The vase is of unusual form, and often appears on coins bearing portraits of Apollo or Artemis and flanked by laurel branches, sacred to Apollo. For this reason, Wroth postulates this vase may have been connected to a local Apolline myth or cultus.[7] This vase also appears on the coins of nearby Tisna,[8] lending credence to the notion of the vase symbolizing a cult in the region, not just as a symbol of the city of Kyme. This new addition to my collection features the one-handled vase and the name of the magistrate who issued the coin, Zoilos, circa 165-90 BC. Aeolis, Kyme. Greek Æ 15.5 mm, 3.69 g, 1 h. Magistrate Zoilos, c. 165-90 BC. Obv: Draped bust of Artemis, right, bow and quiver at shoulder. Rev: One-handled vase between two laurel branches; KY above; Z-Ω/I-Λ/Ο-Σ (magistrate's name) in fields. Refs: BMC 17.113,87-89; Sear 4193; SNG von Aulock 1642; SNG Cop 108. Let's see your coins of Kyme! ~~~ Notes. 1. Wroth, Warwick. A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum: Troas, Aeolis and Lesbos. London, Gilbert and Rivington, 1894, p. xlix. 2. "Aeolis Coins." Forvm Ancient Coins, The Collaborative Numismatics Project, https://www.forumancientcoins.com/c...oins.asp?e=-_Aeolis&vpar=1381&pos=1&target=54. 3. Strabo 13.1.2, in Strabo, Strabonis Geographica. Edited by August Meineke, Sumptibus Et Typis B.G. Teubneri(IS), 1877, available online at The Perseus Project. English version (H.C. Hamilton, Esq., W. Falconer, M.A., 1903) here. 4. "Cyme (Aeolis)." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Jan. 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyme_(Aeolis). 5. Wroth, op. cit., pp. xlix ff. and pp. 114-124. 6. Wroth, op. cit., p. li. 7. Wroth, op. cit., p. lii. 8. See, for example, a coin illustrated at the blog of our own @Sulla80. "Tisna River God." Sulla Coins, Sulla Coins, 11 July 2021, https://www.sullacoins.com/post/tisna-river-god.
Very cool! I love the coinage of Kyme, and Aeolis more generally. Here's a bronze that's of a common type generally, but I've been unable to find another example (or mention anywhere) of this magistrate. Anyone recognize Zenimotos (?CENOTIMOΣ?): Greek (Hellenistic). Aeolis, Kyme AE Unit (18mm, 3.7g, 12h). Ca. 350-250 BCE. Obv: Forepart of Horse, magistrate name below. KY above left. (C/K/Ξ/?)ENOTIMOΣ (?) Rev: Oenochoe (or Skyphos, a one-handled vase) with handle right. Monogram to left. Provenance: Ex-Holding History Coins (Nathan Hochrein; DePere, WI) #H1230; Ex-Agora Auctions group lot (Auction 35, Group Lots 448-456). Numis. Notes: Very rare variant, likely not published: Magistrate not found in any known references for this or any other coin of Kyme (cf. Unal (2009), “…Excavations at Kyme, 1951-1954”). No examples found in published auction archives of the coinage of Kyme. There was a “ΞENOTIMOΣ” Magistrate reported for Sikyon on coinage of the period 251 – 146 BC (Asolati & Crisafulli, “Il gruzzolo di Bengasi (Libia) 1939…” Revue Numismatique 2014, p. 353-427). And the flashier AR Tetradrachm: Greek (Hellenistic). Aeolis, Kyme AR Tetradrachm (37mm x 32mm, 16.30g, 1h). Struck ca. 165 - 145 BCE. Obv: Head of Amazon right, wearing tainia. Rev: KYMAIΩN / OΛYMΠIOΣ. Horse w/in wreath, left foreleg raised; oenochoe below. Ref: BMC 80-81; Oakley (ANSMN 27, 1982) obv. 53 (incorreclty noted as 51 by CNG, rev die not in Oakley); SNG Ashmolean -; SNG von Aulock -; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC 80-1; Boston MFA 1651; Pozzi 2302. Prov: Ex-CNG EA 322 (12 March 2014), 238; Agora Auctions Sale 21 (25 November 2014), Lot 108; Ex-Unknown dealer tag, partly visible here ("DNR" | 12-12-1993 (Sale 616, 359?), price 895). Additional Notes: Very few rev. die matches, but many obv. die matches on acsearch (many mislabeled as Oakley 51, or 49, 50): Pegasi 23 (23 Nov 2010), Lot 145 [corr., Oakley 53 not 54; similarly weak/worn obv., same rev./earlier die state]; Kunker 136 (10 March 2008), Lot 630 [both dies], and 170 (13 Oct 2008), 1413; likely also Kuenker 326 (7 Oct 2019), 822, but in different rev. die states with interesting variations, suggesting some re-engraving, repairs, or other technological backdrop; same obv die as CNA XVIII (3 December 1991), 149.
Tetradrachm of Kyme 165-160 BC Metrophanes Magistrate Obv, Head of the Amazon Kyme right. Rv. Horse walking right, left leg raised over one handled cup All with laurel wreath. Oakley 3 16.74 grms 30 mm Photo by W. Hansen This coin is a part of a series of coins minted from a number of cities in western Asia Minor which though they each have their unique civic types are all minted on the Attic standard and have the same spread flans and usually with laurel wreaths on the reverse. They appear to have started roughly at the same time that the Kingdom of Pergamon adopted the cistophoric standard. So it would appear that this kingdom more or less suspended minting coins featuring types associated with the Attalid dynasty opting for coinages that appeared essentially civic in nature. On a personal note. Today has been a little unusual. This is the second coin I have posted today that I bought as an unsold lot.
Nice addition! When the term "vase" is used is the meaning the same as today? A vessel to hold flowers, or for ornament, etc? I have also seen the description as "one handed cup" for similar issues.. wine may have been a more popular depiction for the people? What do you think? Sorry about the photo below .. the coin is so small you can see the holder I used to prop it up - nothing smaller I had on hand seemed to work! Amateur hour.. AEOLIS, KYME AR Hemiobol OBVERSE: Eagle's head left, KY to left (M beneath the head, nearly off flan) REVERSE: Quadrapartite incuse square of mill-sail pattern Struck at Aeolis, 450BC .47g 7.7mm
@Roman Collector ....Nice looking coin..Interesting ✍ Thanks. I do have the same type that I picked up to add to my 12 Olympian set .. Aeolis, Kyme, c. 165-90 BC. Æ (16mm, 3.84g, 12h). Zoilos, magistrate. Obverse...Draped bust of Artemis right, hair in sphendone, quiver and bow over shoulder. Reverse...Single-handled oenoechoe (Kyme's cup) with KY above (Kyme), flanked either side by laurel branches. Magistrates name left to right across central field Z-Ω / I-Λ / O-Σ..Zoilos. SNG München 507-9; SNG Copenhagen 108; SNG von Aulock 1642.
I have 2 from this city Aiolis. Kyme circa 350-320 BC. Bronze Æ 11 mm., 1,19 g. Kyme, Aeolis, c. 350-250 BC. Eagle standing right / K-Y to left and right of cup with one handle. BMC 16-20; SNG von Aulock 1625; SNG Newcastle SNGuk_1301_0449 And probably my worst coin in my collection, a hemiobol, bought in an auction for a full 3 EUR. AEOLIS, Kyme (ca 450-400 BC) AR Hemiobol Head of eagle left; KY–M around; Quadripartite incuse square. SNG Ashmolean –; SNG von Aulock 1623 var. (ethnic); SNG Copenhagen 31 var. (ethnic); Klein 333 corr. (ethnic). 0,32 g, 8 mm
The "cup" on the coins of Kyme is sometimes described as an oenochoe, a one-handled pitcher used to pour wine. Oenochoae come in different shapes, see e.g. the collection of pictures on wikipedia. My Kyme coins showing the "cup": Aeolis, Kyme, AE9, circa 320–250 BC (?). Obv: Eagle standing right. Rev: one-handled cup, K-Y. 9mm, 0.92g. Ref: BMC 16–20; SNG Copenhagen 41–45; SNG von Aulock 1625. Aeolis, Kyme, AE16, circa 320–250 BC (?). Obv: Eagle standing right, magistrate's name [...]PΩΣ above. Rev: one-handled cup, K-Y. 16mm, 3.79g. Ref: BMC 27–39. Aeolis, Kyme, AE16, ca. 320–250 BC, magistrate: Eunikos. Obv: forepart of bridled horse r.; above, KY; below, [E]YNIKOΣ. Rev: one-handled cup; monogram. 16mm, 3.45g. Ref: see BMC 47 (different magistrate). Aeolis, Kyme, AE17, ca. 250–200 BC, magistrate: Aristomachos. Obv: head of the amazon Kyme, diademed, r. Rev: forepart of bridled horse r.; one-handled cup and ethnic KY to l; below, APIΣTOMAXOΣ. 17mm, 3.07g. Ref: SNG Copenhagen 88; BMC 54 f.
A really nice bronze coin there, @Roman Collector Coingrats! I have two bronzes from Aiolis (with pics anyway): Kyme, Aeolis AE22, 250-190 BC, Magistrate Aristophanes. Obverse: Head of the Amazon Kyme righ Reverse: KY, KY / A / API? Horse standing right, fore-leg raised. Reference: GCV 4191, SNG München 486, BMC 59 Tisna, Aeolis AE13. 4th-3rd century BC. Obverse: Youthful head of river-god Tisnaios left. Reverse: TISNAION, sword in scabbard, with strap to left. Reference: GCV 4236, Babelon, Traité II-2, 2074. Size: 13mm Weight: 2g
Tiny bow and quiver type. Aeolis, Kyme. AE12. 1st century BC. Obv: KY. Forepart of horse right. Rev: Bow and quiver; monogram to left. SNG Copenhagen 110-1.
Hi, @Roman Collector - here's the Tisna coin - one of my favorites: and my ZOILOS from Kyme - a coin that is looking more interesting since I rephotographed it - I don't need more coins, I just need new photos of the ones I have. I'll try to remember this as I stare at the tetradrachm from @Terence Cheesman.
Date 350 – 320 B.C. AE13. Cyme, Turkey 1-1969. Obv. Forepart of prancing horse right, KY above. Rev. Bow and Quiver, large monogram above, AOE below. GCVSII #4194. ABCAM #397.
Date mid 4th century B.C. AE10. Obv. Eagle standing r., wings closed. Rev. K—Y either side of one-handled vase. GCVSII #4186. ABCAM #390 .
Date 350 – 320 B.C. AE18. Cyme, Turkey 1-1969. Obv. Forepart of prancing horse r., KY above, APIETOuN below. Rev. One-handled vase, monogram to l. GCVSII #4188. ABCAM #392
R.C., Pictured below is a high relief Tet. from another small city in Aeolis, Myrina. I sold this coin at auction 3 years ago. AEOLIS. Myrina. circa 155-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm: 16.51 gm, 34 mm, 12 h. Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo. Reverse: Apollo holding branch and phiale, at feet omphalos and amphora. SNG Copenhagen 223. Ex AWK Collection.
