AR Tetrobol 311-280 BCE
Obv: Griffin crouching left on club.
Rev: ΑΒΔΗΡΙΤΕΩΝ.
Laureate head of Apollo right within linear square.
SNG Copenhagen 366.
Ex Frank Robinson
Ex Rauch
Ex Ryro Collection
During large periods of the ancient times, there wasn’t much to do. Nowadays, we play games on our phones or watch shows, but neither activity was available back then. So, what was a king to do? Well, he could sack Abdera.
Sacking Abdera was a major pastime.Philip II,Lysimachos the Ptolemies, Seleukid, and other Macedonians all sacked Abdera at one point or another. The Romans of course joined in, as did the Attalids.
Probably the reason for this was its position at the edge of Thrace. In the early 4th century it was the western-most boundary of the Odrysians and was involved in endless games between the Persians, Athenians, and Thracians.
The griffin comes from Teos from whom Abdera was settled. A number of famous Teans moved to Abdera, likely to escape Persian dominance. Before that, it was settled by Klazomenai. That settlement failed due to their ruler Timesios, who legend has it tried to do everything by himself and was eventually scorned by everyone. There’s probably a moral in the episode somewhere.
I have a number of coins from Abdera. The one at the top is probably the nicest and is my only silver one, but they also issued many bronzes. Many were issued in the names of various magistrates.
circa 311-280 BCE
Æ 17 mm, 5,36 g
Menan–, magistrate
Griffin lying right on club; MENAN below /
Laureate head of Apollo right within linear square; ethnic around
C-N Period X, 192–212; HGC 3, 1241
circa 311-280 BCE
Æ 14 mm, 3,44 g
circa 311-280 BCE
Æ 14 mm, 3,07g
BI(?) magistrate
ΣΙΜΑΛΟΥ (Simalos) magistrate
circa 311-250 BCE
Æ 17 mm, 3,89g
Griffin lying left /
Laureate head of Apollo right in linear square; EΠI ΣI-MA-ΛOY around
C-N Period XI, 562–626; HGC 3.2, 1234
circa 336-311 BCE
Æ 11mm, 1,43g
Griffin seated l., raising forepaw.
R/ Quadripartite square with pellets in quarters. HPO on side.
Cf. SNG Copenhagen 373
This one is on permanent vacation in Australia.
circa 311-280 BCE
Æ Dichalkon 15 mm, 4,49 g
Euan-, magistrate
Gryphon crouching right on club; EYAN below /
Head of Apollo right; all within linear border
C-N 185 (D6/R7); SNG Copenhagen –
652 BCE
Abdera led by Timesios of Klazomenai.
Abdera begun as a colony of Klazomenai.
Abdera settled by Ionians from Teos, who were escaping Persian subjugation.
Abdera conquered by Persia.
Abdera conquered again by the Persians after the Ionian revolt, under their general Mardonius.
Abdera taxed 10 to 15 talents as part of the First Athenian League.
Abdera subjugated under Athens by their general Thrasybulus.
Abdera destroyed by an invasion of Thracian Triballi tribe.
Kotys I supports the Triballi in an attack on Abdera.
Lysimachos obtains control over parts of Thrace, including Abdera. He destroys Kardia to provide inhabitants for Lysimachia.
Romans declare Abdera and Sestos free cities.
Armies of Eumenes II and the Romans sack Abdera.