Name/Title
BCE 0401 - 0500 (5th century) MYSIA, Cyzicus. c. 5th century BCE. AR Hemiobol. Boar Forepart / Lion Head with Panther Head Above.Description
Cyzicus Silver Hemiobol with Boar, Lion, and Panther (c. 5th century BCE)
Mysia, Asia Minor
This small silver coin was struck by the ancient city of Cyzicus in Mysia during the Classical period. On one side appears the forepart of a running boar, rendered with an extended foreleg and a pronounced crest, a dynamic image associated with strength and vigilance. Cyzicus frequently employed animal symbols in its coinage, especially on its smallest denominations, where imagery rather than inscriptions carried civic meaning.
The opposite side presents a lion’s head, accompanied above by a second, smaller animal head. In Cyzicene silver fractions, such compressed combinations of symbols are characteristic, reflecting both the limited space of the flan and the city’s rich iconographic vocabulary. The inclusion of multiple animal emblems—boar, lion, and panther—creates a dense visual statement of civic identity and religious association. Coins like this circulated in everyday transactions, offering insight into how Classical Greek cities communicated power and tradition through compact but expressive designs.Create Date
July 30, 2025Update Date
September 20, 2026
