The ancient Greeks were the first to name the region Taurica after the Tauri. As the Tauri inhabited only mountainous regions of southern Crimea, at first the name Taurica was used only to this southern part, but later it was extended to name the whole peninsula. Greek colonies along the north coast of the Black Sea in the 5th century BCE. Greek city-states began establishing colonies along the Black Sea coast of Crimea in the 7th or 6th century BC. Feodosiya and Panticapaeum were established by Milesians. In the 5th century BC, Dorians from Heraclea Pontica founded the sea port of Chersonesos.
In the 2nd century BC, the eastern part of Taurica became part of the Bosporan Kingdom, before being incorporated into the Roman Empire in the 1st century BC. During the AD 1st, 2nd and 3rd centuries, Taurica was host to Roman legions and colonists in Charax, Crimea. The Charax colony was founded under Vespasian with the intention of protecting Chersonesos and other Bosporean trade emporiums from the Scythians.
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Reverse: No inscription, Head of King Aspurgus facing right, wearing diadem; BAP monogram and IB in fields
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 7.76 g
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Reverse: Strung bow and arrow; ΠAN
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.11 g
Reverse: Bow and arrow; ΠAN (eight-rayed star countermark from undertype)
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.73 g
Reverse: incuse square, swastika pattern with stellate designs in two opposite quarters
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.8 g
Reverse: Bow above arrow right
Die Orientation: -
Weight: -
Reverse: ΠAN / Head of lion left, sturgeon below
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 6.25 g
Reverse: Π-A-N, forepart of griffin left, sturgeon left below
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 7.21 g
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Reverse: Forepart of griffin left; below, sturgeon left.
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 6.98 g