Lysimacheia was an important Hellenistic Greek town on the north-western extremity of the Thracian Chersonese. It was built by Lysimachus in 309 BC, when he was preparing for the last struggle with his rivals. It controlled the road from Sestos to the north and the mainland of Thrace. In order to obtain inhabitants for his new city, Lysimachus destroyed the neighbouring town of Cardia and settled the inhabitants of it and other Chersonesean cities here.
After his death the city fell under Seleucid dominion, and during the wars between Seleucus Callinicus and Ptolemy Euergetes it passed from the hands of the Seleucids into those of the Ptolemies. Whether these latter set the town free, or whether it emancipated itself, is uncertain; at any rate it entered into the relation of sympolity with the Aetolian League.
As the Aetolians were not able to afford the town the necessary protection, it was destroyed again in 197 BC. It was attempted restored by Antiochus III, but this seemingly failed, and it entered a slow decline until Justinian I rebuilt it as a fortress under the name of Hexamilion.
After his death the city fell under Seleucid dominion, and during the wars between Seleucus Callinicus and Ptolemy Euergetes it passed from the hands of the Seleucids into those of the Ptolemies. Whether these latter set the town free, or whether it emancipated itself, is uncertain; at any rate it entered into the relation of sympolity with the Aetolian League.
As the Aetolians were not able to afford the town the necessary protection, it was destroyed again in 197 BC. It was attempted restored by Antiochus III, but this seemingly failed, and it entered a slow decline until Justinian I rebuilt it as a fortress under the name of Hexamilion.
Modern location: Eksemil, Turkey
(1)
Lysimacheia
An
AE
unit
struck 309-220 BC
in
Lysimacheia
Obverse: helmeted head of Athena right
Reverse: legend within grain-wreath; ΛY
Diameter:
10 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.24 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.24 g
No notes for this coin
SNG Cop. 921
(2)
Lysimachos
An
AR
Tetradrachm
struck 280-250 BC
in
Lysimacheia
Obverse: Diademed head of deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon
Reverse: BASILEWS LUSIMACOU, Athena Nikephoros seated left, holding Nike in extended right hand, left arm resting on shield, lion’s head to left.
Diameter:
31 mm
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 16.58 g
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 16.58 g
Ex GM 42, lot 138; 10-10-88. A superbly toned and near mint state coin
Müller 39