CIMMERIAN BOSPOROS. Pantikapaion.(Circa 304-250 BC).Ae.

Obv : Wreathed head of Pan left.

Rev : ΠAN.
Bow and arrow.
SNG BM Black Sea 894.

Condition : The coin is in relatively good condition, with the portrait and symbols well-defined. The patina is a dark green, typical of bronze or copper coins, with a smooth surface and minimal corrosion. Some lighter green spots are visible, indicating oxidation over time. The details on both sides remain clear, and the patina gives the coin an attractive aged appearance while preserving its main features.Good very fine.

Material : Bronze.
Axis : 12h

Weight : 6.34 gr
Diameter : 19 mm

Pantikapaion was an ancient Greek city located on the Cimmerian Bosporus, in what is now modern-day Kerch in Crimea. Founded in the late 7th or early 6th century BCE by Greek colonists from Miletus, Pantikapaion became the most prominent city of the Bosporan Kingdom. Its strategic position on the Black Sea allowed it to flourish as a center for trade, particularly in grain, fish, and wine, which were exchanged with neighboring regions and other Greek cities.

The city was built on Mount Mithridates, offering a commanding view of the surrounding area and the sea. Pantikapaion was known for its impressive fortifications, temples, and public buildings, which reflected its wealth and importance. It also minted its own coins, with notable depictions of griffins and other symbolic figures from Greek mythology, showcasing its influence and autonomy within the broader Greek world.

Pantikapaion's ruling class, the Spartocid dynasty, controlled the Bosporan Kingdom for several centuries, fostering a stable and prosperous environment. However, the city eventually came under Roman influence in the 1st century BCE. Despite later conflicts and periods of decline, Pantikapaion's historical legacy remains significant as a key center of Greek civilization on the northern Black Sea coast. Its ruins still bear witness to its rich cultural and economic history.