ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WEIGHT
Authority
Mint
Cyzicos
Denomination
2 Staters
Material
Lead
Manufacture
Cast
Shape
Square
Length
2.90 cm
Width
2.40 cm
Height
0.90 cm
Metrology
| Mass (g) | Mass (grain) | Date of measurement | Reference | fragmented | cleaned | reference weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51.67 | - | - | CPAI II | No | No | Yes |
Iconography
| Symbol | Technique | Direction | Position | Number | Synecdoche |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuna fish | Relief | LEFT |
Wear
Corrosion
Handle
No
Suspension hole
No
Recarved mould
No
Recarved weight
No
Intentionally destroyed
No
Archaeological description
CPAI II : Square in form with rounded corners; raised corners folding down aver design. On the face, in relief, tuna fish to left; above, ΒΥ(ζαντίον); below, ΔΙ(στάτηρον); Since the first letter Β is later than the usage of Π, this weight is later in date than the previous weight. Bottom is blank. Worn and patinated.
Autopsy
No
INSCRIPTION
| Language | Technique | Legend type |
|---|---|---|
| Greek | Relief | Denomination, Mint |
Fac simile
KΥ
ΔΙ
Edition
Κυ(ζικηνῶν) | δι(στάτηρον).
Monogram
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
Findspot (region)
Findspot (site)
context
CIRCUMSTANCES OF ACQUISITION
Region
City
Date of first acquisition
Dec. 31, 1942
circumstances
CPAI II : Transferred from Topkapi Palace Collection, 1942.
DATING OF THE WEIGHT
Curatorial Section
GREEK
Time frame
FROM
-400
TO
-1
Comments on Chronology
CPAI II : Late Hellenistic or Early Roman Imperial.
COLLECTION HISTORY
Collection
| Name | Date of acquisition | Inventory number |
|---|---|---|
| Archaeological Museums Istanbul | Jan. 1, 1942 | 6154 (M) |
| Topkapı Palace Museum (Istanbul) | None | None |
Bibliography
| Reference | Page/Column | Reference (number) | Plate / Figure | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPAI II | None | 027 | pl. 8 | None |
| Killen 2017a | 195 | Byz b 8 | None | None |
VARIA
Additional comment
CPAI II: For distater examples of Byzantium see Weiss 2008, pp. 710-712.
It could be a weight from Cyzicus. Indeed, the iconographic symbol looks more like a tuna, as can be seen on a few Cyzicus' weights, than a dolphin. Moreover, the 13 other known weights for the city of Byzantium present the ethnic with a Π and not a Β. What is recognised as a Β could easily be interpreted as a Κ.
It could be a weight from Cyzicus. Indeed, the iconographic symbol looks more like a tuna, as can be seen on a few Cyzicus' weights, than a dolphin. Moreover, the 13 other known weights for the city of Byzantium present the ethnic with a Π and not a Β. What is recognised as a Β could easily be interpreted as a Κ.
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