AE 6.0g 18mm
Ox: Thracian helmet with cheek guard rt
Rx: Shield seen from back with handle and supports; city name top around
Ex Bargain Bin Ancients
Mesembria must have been a warlike city, since all of its coins feature a helmet and other military equipment. The diobols showing the helmet facing forward are the most famous, and can even be a bit intimidating. One of these days I’ll pick one up, though the type I have is much rarer.
The ruins of the city are still visible and are actually in decent shape, or at least the walls are. Today they are among the tourist attractions in Nesebar, Bulgaria.
Most of the ancient texts on Mesembria debate when it was founded and by whom. In fact, it seems no other city was debated as widely.