Sestos, Thrace - Ancient Coin Stories

Thrace, Sestos
Circa 400-350 BCE
Æ 1.92g, 12mm, 12h
Head of Athena to left, wearing Corinthian helmet
Amphora; ΣΗ to right, A or monogram to left
H. Von Fritze, Sestos. Die Menas-Inschrift und das Münzwesen der Stadt in Nomisma I (1907), p.7, 19; CN Type 8328; HGC 3.2, 1661 var. (no monogram)
Ex Roma Numismatics

The history of Sestos is intertwined with that of Abydos, which was directly across the Hellespont. As the key crossing site, nearly every historic figure involved between Asia and Europe in ancient times spent time here. The Persians twice crossed from here to Abydos, first against the Persians and again by Xerxes in his famed invasion of Greece.

The Thracian Chersonese, Sestos
circa 300 BCE
Æ 16mm, 4,90g
Obv: Wreathed head of Persephone left
Rev: Hermes standing left, holding kerykeion; amphora to left, ΣΗ downwards to right. c/m
HGC 3.2, 1646. Von Fritze 7-8

Kotys I conquered the city at one point and it was also contested by the Athenian admiral Chares, who killed every man and enslaved the women and children.

Alexander the Great himself crossed here and it was later controlled by Lysimachos.

600 BCE

Sestos is colonized by settlers from Lesbos.

512 BCE

Darius I destroyed Abydos and takes Byzantion and Sestos as part of his Scythian campaign, in which troops from Parion take part.

480 BCE

Xerxes I bridges the Hellespont near Sestos.

479 BCE

Sestos is besieged by Athens under Xanthippus. They surrender due to starvation.

474 BCE

Approximate time when Sestos is retaken by Kimon of Athens.

411 BCE

The Athenian general Thrasyllos barely escapes with his fleet from Sestos to Elaios.

404 BCE

Sestos is occupied by the Spartans under Lysander.

393 BCE

Sestos is occupied by Athenian soldiers under Konon.

366 BCE

Autophradates lay siege to Ariobarzanes in Assos. In exchange for Athenian support, Ariobarzanes gifts them Sestos.

365 BCE

Athenians under Timotheios conquer Sestos and Krithote.

361 BCE

Kotys I besieges Sestos.

353 BCE

Athens sends Chares against the breakaway Sestos. He takes the city, massacres the men, and sells the women and children as slaves.

337 BCE

Sestos joins the Philip II led League of Corinth.

334 BCE

Alexander the Great crosses from Sestos to Abydos. He then visits Troy and returns to Abydos. On his way, he sacrifices at the tomb of Achilles at Achilleion.

200 BCE

Abydos besieged by Philip V of Macedon. Ainos, Sestos, and Maroneia are taken. Elaios surrenders to him peacefully.

196 BCE

Romans declare Abdera and Sestos free cities.

196 BCE

Sestos surrenders to Antiochos III.

191 BCE

Antiochos III refortifies Sestos in preparation for a Roman attack.

190 BCE

Sestos surrenders to Gaius Livius Salinator.

188 BCE

Treaty of Apamea. Euromos, Laodikeia ad Lykon, Sestos, and Abydos returned to the Kingdom of Pergamon.

133 BCE

Adramytteion, Smyrna, Sestos, Synnada, Laodikeia ad Lykon, Attalaia, Erythrai, Ephesos, Perge, and Assos come under Roman control after Attalos III, the last Attalid king, leaves it to Rome in his will.