Pontos - Amisos - Museum Gallery

October 2024

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A decent example of this interesting design: Aegis, with Gorgon's head in the center; Rx: Nike advancing right, carrying palm branch. Name of city "Amisos" in Greek divided across both sides of Nike. AE 21.
Established in the 6th century B.C., it controlled an important trade route to the south, located on the southern coast of the Black Sea, re-settled by the Athenians in the 5th C. B.C.
Greek city of Amisos in Pontus
Bronze 21mm Struck under Mithradates VI the Great circa 105-90 B.C.; or specifically circa 85 - 65 B.C.
Reference: HGC 7, 242; Sear 3642; SNG Black Sea 1177-1191; B.M.C. 13. 20,74
Aegis, with Gorgon's head at center. Nike advancing right, carrying palm-branch; ΑΜΙ - ΣΟΥ across field; monograms to left and to right.
In mythology, Amisos was believed to be the original settlement of the Amazons. It was originally founded by Greeks from the cities of Phokaia and/or Miletos in circa 560 B.C. It was a flourishing Greek city on the Black Sea coast commanding an important trade route to the south. Amisos was under the control of the Achaemenid Empire, then re-settled by Athenians in the following century and they renamed the place Peiraeus. In subsequent times it played important historical roles as a city of the Kingdom of Bosporus. It was given the status of a free city under the Romans.
Gorgoneion on aegis. Reverse: Nike advancing right, holding wreath and palm branch. Script: Greek Lettering: ΑΜΙ ΣΟΥ; Unabridged legend: Αμισός, Translation: Amisos