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Copyright credit: Numismatic Museum of Athens / Lysiane Delanaye
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Copyright credit: Numismatic Museum of Athens / Lysiane Delanaye
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Copyright credit: Tekin 2013b
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WEIGHT
Authority
Mint
Cyzicos
Denomination
1 Mina
Material
Lead
Manufacture
Cast
Shape
Rectangle
Length
9.00 cm
Width
8.20 cm
Height
0.90 cm
Metrology
| Mass (g) | Mass (grain) | Date of measurement | Reference | fragmented | cleaned | reference weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 673.30 | - | - | Tekin 2013b | No | No | No |
| 673.50 | - | April 16, 2018 | L. Delanaye | No | No | Yes |
Iconography
| Symbol | Technique | Direction | Position | Number | Synecdoche |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphin | Relief | LEFT | |||
| Trident | Relief | LEFT | Two |
Wear
Little to no wear
Corrosion
Little to no corrosion
Handle
No
Suspension hole
No
Recarved mould
No
Recarved weight
No
Intentionally destroyed
No
Archaeological description
Lead rectangle weight, little worn and little corroded ; letters and symbols on the obverse are in relief. We can read ΚΥΖΙΚΗ on the upper part and ΜΝΑ on the inferior part. There is a dolphin between the two inscriptions (head to the left). Two tridents are located on either side of the dolphin : the upper one is obliquely inclined (to the left) ; the one below is horizontal (to the right). There is an unclear symbol under the d'olphin's head (animal?). The reverse is flat and blank.
Tekin 2013b: This lead rectangular weight with slightly rounded corners and raised edges measures 89 x 81 x 9 mm and weighs 673.3 g; worn and patinated. On the obverse there is a dolphin to the left, at each side of dolphin there is a trident, while one at above faces to left diagonally, the other at below faces to right in horizontal position. The dolphin holds something unclear in its mouth. While it reads above ΚΥΖΙΚΗ(νῶν), below it reads ΜΝΑ(ιον), denomination. All are in relief. While the abbreviated ehtnics of Cyzicus are generally shorter (i.e. KYZ or KYZI), on this example the abbreviated ethnic is longer. The reverse of the weight is blank.
Tekin 2013b: This lead rectangular weight with slightly rounded corners and raised edges measures 89 x 81 x 9 mm and weighs 673.3 g; worn and patinated. On the obverse there is a dolphin to the left, at each side of dolphin there is a trident, while one at above faces to left diagonally, the other at below faces to right in horizontal position. The dolphin holds something unclear in its mouth. While it reads above ΚΥΖΙΚΗ(νῶν), below it reads ΜΝΑ(ιον), denomination. All are in relief. While the abbreviated ehtnics of Cyzicus are generally shorter (i.e. KYZ or KYZI), on this example the abbreviated ethnic is longer. The reverse of the weight is blank.
Autopsy
Yes
INSCRIPTION
| Language | Technique | Legend type |
|---|---|---|
| Greek | Relief | Denomination, Mint |
Fac simile
ΚΥΖΙΚΗ
ΜИΑ
Edition
Κυζικη(νῶν) | μνᾶ.
Monogram
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
Findspot (region)
Findspot (site)
context
CIRCUMSTANCES OF ACQUISITION
Region
City
Date of first acquisition
circumstances
Tekin 2013b: Had been collected by A.D. Mordtmann at the very beginning of the 20th century in Istanbul (Constantinople) and later it had been presented to the Athens Numismatic Museum by Jordan-Bassermann.
DATING OF THE WEIGHT
Curatorial Section
GREEK
Time frame
FROM
-400
TO
-1
Comments on Chronology
Tekin 2013b: Late Hellenistic, 2nd–1st centuries B.C. But we have to consider that some weights of Cyzicus may be dated to the Roman Imperial Period, at least to the A.D. 1st century.
COLLECTION HISTORY
Collection
| Name | Date of acquisition | Inventory number |
|---|---|---|
| Mordtmann Collection | None | None |
| Numismatic Museum (Athens) | None | SM 5 |
Bibliography
| Reference | Page/Column | Reference (number) | Plate / Figure | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tekin 2013b | 169–170 | 15 | 15 | None |
| Tekin 2016a | 71;186 | 4 | pl. 12/fig. 88 | None |
VARIA