Lesbos is the third largest Greek island, located in the northeastern Aegean Sea, separated from Turkey by the narrow Mytilini Strait.
Greek emigrants, mainly from Thessaly, arrived probably beginning in the Late Bronze Age. In Hellenistic times, the island belonged to various successor kingdoms until 79 B.C., when it passed into Roman hands. The most powerful cities were Mytilene and Methymna.
In addition to the local coins, two important coinages, one in billon and another in electrum, had a general circulation throughout the island.
Greek emigrants, mainly from Thessaly, arrived probably beginning in the Late Bronze Age. In Hellenistic times, the island belonged to various successor kingdoms until 79 B.C., when it passed into Roman hands. The most powerful cities were Mytilene and Methymna.
In addition to the local coins, two important coinages, one in billon and another in electrum, had a general circulation throughout the island.
(1)
Alexander III
An
AR
Tetradrachm
struck 215-200 B.C.
in
Mytilene
Obverse: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress.
Reverse: AΛEΞANΔΡOY / ΠΑTR - Zeus seated left on throne, holding sceptre and eagle; in left field, monogram ΠΑTR above lyre.
Diameter:
32.3 mm
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 15.73 g
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 15.73 g
Posthumous Issue
Price 1702; Müller 975; Mektepini hoard 244-246; Latakia hoard 47.
(2)
Lesbos
Obverse: confronting boar heads, creating the illusion of a facing head of a panther
Reverse: incuse square punch
Diameter:
8 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.49 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.49 g
1/20 or 1/24th of Stater
BMC Lesbos p152,18
(3)
Mytilene
Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo right
Reverse: MYTI. Head of Aphrodite or Sappho right; uncertain symbol to left; all within incuse circle
Diameter:
10 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.31 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.31 g
Ex-Pecunem 39-328
Cf. BMC 8-14; HGC 6, 1037.
(4)
Mytilene
|
Alexander III
An
AR
Tetradrachm
struck c. 188-170 BC
in
Mytilene
Obverse: head of young Heracles in lionskin right
Reverse: Zeus seated left, leaning on scepter, holding eagle, lyre left; AΛEΞANΔPOY / monogram / Δ
Diameter:
34.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 15.9 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 15.9 g
No notes for this coin
Price 1718