Moesia, Istros
350 – 250 BCE
AE 12mm 1.95g
Head of the river god Istros facing slightly right /
Sea eagle on dolphin left.
SNG BM Black Sea 260

Istros, founded by settlers from Miletos in 630 BCE, is the oldest known settlement in modern day Romania. The Black Sea port reached considerable wealth, as evidenced by its ample coinage, through trading with the interior.

Its more famous coins are those depicting two faces at 180 degrees from each other. To this day we’re not quite sure their meaning, though some historians have proposed it’s the first recording of an eclipse, though this is extremely controversial and rejected by most other historians.

I chose this far less debated bronze because I liked the depiction of the river god Istros. These bronzes are also much rarer.

The city became the center of a dispute between Philip II and the Scythian king Ateas, and Philip II took the city and destroyed its walls. They were rebuilt and destroyed several more times during the Hellenistic era.

630 BCE

Istros founded by settlers from Miletos.

500 BCE

Istros destroyed by Skythians.

313 BCE

Istros undergoes significant damage in a revolt by Pontic Greeks.

260 BCE

Istros and its ally Kallatis are defeated by Byzantion.

200 BCE

The Getai besiege Istros and are bribed to withdraw.

175 BCE

The Bastarni people destroy Istros.

71 BCE

Romans under Lucullus occupy Istros and Kabyle.

62 BCE

The Bastarni people defeat the Roman consul Gaius Antonius Hybrida at Istros.

30 BCE

The Dacian king Burebista takes Istros.

29 BCE

Crassus undertakes a military campaign against the Bastarni and annexes Istros.

238 CE

Istros is razed to the ground by the Goths.

295 CE

The walls of Istros are destroyed again by the Goths.