Bizye, Thrace
405-387 BCE
Æ 12 mm, 1,13 g
Obv: Horse prancing right; crescent above.
Rev: ΣΕ/Β/Ι around cotyle; all within square incuse.
Peter —; Topalov (2005) p.13 No 10; Youroukova —
Bizye or Vizye was an ancient capital of the Odrysians.
The assignment of this coin to Bizye is covered by Topalov. He does this based on the prancing horse, which was a regal symbol. Also, since there are other types more obvious for Bisanthe – the other major possiblity – it would be less likely for there to be yet another type – especially with a regal symbol. The find spot Topalov mentions is also much closer to Bizye than to Bisanthe. Topalov also mentions that obverse’s similarity to the bronzes of nearby Maroneia.
The location is the site of modern day Vize, Bulgaria.
Relevant Resources
Urban Bronze Coins of Small Denomination From Odrysian Kings of the 5th to 4th centuries