Ancient Coin Stories

Let coins tell their stories…

Cyclades, Keos. Koressos
4th century BCE
Ae 12mm 1.53g
Obv: Cuttlefish.
Rev: K-O bunch of grapes.
HGC 6, 588

Koressos was one of the four ancient cities on the island of Keos, and one of three to mint coins. It was eventually swallowed by nearby Ioulis.

700 BCE

The Lelantine War between Chalkis and Eretria results in a Chalkis victory and Eretria’s loss of Andros, Tenos, and Koressos, Ioulis, and Karthaia on Kea. Miletos joined the side of Eretria and Samos and Thessaly on the side of Chalkis.

100 BCE

Rough time at which Koressos and Poiessa on Kea are absorbed into Ioulis.