Lysimachia

1 Mina

Lead

Cast

Rectangle

6.80 cm

5.70 cm

- cm

Mass (g)	Mass (grain)	Date of measurement	Reference	fragmented	cleaned	reference weight
653.00	-	-	Lang 1968	No	No	Yes

Symbol	Technique	Direction	Position	Number	Synecdoche
Lion	Relief	RIGHT	Leaping

Worn

Tekin 2013h: This is a rectangular lead weight misattributed to Smyrna and misdated to the 2nd century BC. Its denomination also was miscalculated as two-mna in the cistophoric standard. Thus, the city to which the weight belongs, dating and denomination are all incorrect. The weight in question measures 68 x 57 mm and weighs 653 g. On the face is a lion in relief advancing to right. In the publication [Lang 1968] it is stated that there is no trace of letters but on the bottom left corner is a Σ and on the bottom right corner (by the right paw of the lion) is an I; on the top left corner is the low end of a letter, which should be Λ; and the last letter on the top right corner – although it is off the flan – should be Υ. Thus, the complete legend is ΛΥΣΙ, the abbreviated form of the ethnic Λυσιμαχέων. In this case it is certain that the weight belongs to Lysimachia. The lion is the civic badge (parasemon) of Lysimachia and it is frequently depicted on the Lysimachean coins. The bottom of the weight is possibly blank. It is worn and thus, it has a loss of mass: Its mass is high for one mna and low for two mnas. There is a noteworthy difference of mass in grams for both units. The surviving examples show that the Lysimachean mna was about 500 g. So, the weight in question may be one and a half mna (mna of c. 435 gr). But one should consider that the mass may be incorrect and since the present place of the weight is uncertain it is impossible to check it.
Tekin 2018: Square lead weight. On the obverse there is a lion jumping right with facing head, in relief. On each corner, from top left, [Λ-Υ]-Σ-Ι. The unit mark is illegible if any. The reverse is blank. Its heavy mass indicates a late Hellenistic date.
Auction Malter 1989: GREECE, Smyrna, 2nd cent. BC, one and one half mina (Athenian standard) (41 gm), rectangular lead weight Relief of a lion standing right, left paw raised. Lang. 3 (this piece), ex. Malter Auction X, 11 and XXVI, 41. From the ANS museum collection. 6.8 x 5.7 cm. Some wear on head of lion, mounted on stand but Fine, Rare. ($400-600). The style of the lion is similar lo the coins of Smyrna from the 2nd Cent BC.

No

Language	Technique	Legend type
Greek	Relief	Mint

[Λ     Υ]̣

Σ  [?]   Ι

[Λυ]σι(μαχέων) | ?.

GREEK

FROM -300 TO -144

Tekin 2013h: The weight may be dated to from the last years of the fourth century BC to the mid-second century BC.
Killen 2016: Anfang 3. Jh. – 144 v. Chr.

Name	Date of acquisition	Inventory number
Antiquities Trade	April 2, 1989	None
Eisenberg Collection	None	None

Reference	Page/Column	Reference (number)	Plate / Figure	Comment
Lang 1968	2	3	pl. I/3	None
Auction Malter 1979b	None	11	None	(non vidi)
Auction Malter 1983	None	41	None	(non vidi)
Auction Malter 1989	11, 62	16	fig. 16	None
Tekin 2013h	706	None	fig. 2	None
Killen 2016	132	8	None	None
Tekin 2016a	60–65, 181–184	4	pl. 8/54	None
Killen 2017a	196	Lysi III b 4	None	None
Tekin 2018a	95	6	fig.	None