4th century BCE
AE 8 mm, 0.65 g, 12 h
Head of Artemis to right, wearing stephane and with bow and quiver over her shoulder.
Rev. A-P-T-A within the four spokes of a wheel.
Plankenhorn, Mysien, p. 26, 1 (this coin). Apparently unique.
Ex collection of G. Plankenhorn
Recently, I was thrilled to acquire this extremely rare coin of Artake, Mysia. Like most of the cities, I then set out to learn more about this ancient city.
Like many ancient cities, not too much is known about Artake. We do know that it paid tribute to Athens betwene 454 and 418 BCE. Sometime before that, during the Ionian Revolt (499-493 BCE), Artake was burnt by the Persians along with Prokonnesos.
Two different locations for Artake are given.
According to Pliny:
“We then come to the river Granicus, and the harbour of Artace, where a town formerly stood.”
Strabo wrote this:
“It is through this region that the Rhyndacus River flows; this river has its sources in Azanitis, and then, receiving from Mysia Abrettene, among other rivers, the Macestus, which flows from Ancyra in Abaeitis, empties into the Propontis opposite the island Besbicos. In this island of the Cyziceni is a well-wooded mountain called Artace; and in front of this mountain lies an isle bearing the same name; and near by is a promontory called Melanus, which one passes on a coasting-voyage from Cyzicus to Priapus.”
From what I gather, the city was originally located at the mouth of the Granicus River, but after it was destroyed by Darius I the inhabitants moved to the same peninsula as Kyzikos, where they became under the influence of Athens – most likely as protection against the Persians.
From Ptolemaios, it sounds like there was a sanctuary to Artemis at Artake – hence her depiction on this coin.
On the north it is bounded by a part of the Euxine Pontos, which is thus described: after the mouth of the Pontos and the sanctuary of Artemis
Bithynian promontory . 56°45′ . 43°20′
Artake kome . 57°00′ . 43°05′
Today, the city is known as Erdek and is a popular holiday resort for the residents of Istanbul. In ancient times the city quickly became a suburb of nearby Kyzikos. Interestingly, Roman coinage from Kyzikos does depict Artemis, but not its earlier coinage (except a few rare electrum pieces). Perhaps by that time Artake was so integrated into Kyzikos that its temple to Artemis was considered Kyzikos‘ own? Of course, there could have been another temple.
As far as I can tell, our knowledge of the coinage of Artake begins and ends with this coin. I could find no other specimens on ACSearch, at the British Museum, or in ANS. I’m sure next week there will be five for sale in the next Savoca, but right now this appears to be the rarest coin in my collection and a centerpiece that I’m proud to own.