Aeolis, Tisna
4th century BCE
Æ 17mm, 4.13g, 6h
Head of river god Tisnaios l. R/ One-handled cup.
SNG Copenhagen 283; SNG München 641

This is one of my favorite bronze coins, with the portrait of the horned river god Tisnaios seeming ready to jump off the coin. Although the city’s history is mostly known through coins, it seems to have been important enough for a decent amount of time, since it’s coins are uncommon but not rare, and they minted several types.

The site itself was mentioned by Pliny, and archeologists have since found its ruins. There, studies have indicated that it was inhabited from the 3rd millenium BCE, although it was fairly young as a full city, which we believe occurred in the 4th century BCE.