CIMMERIAN BOSPOROS. Phanagoreia. Circa 400 BC. Drachm (Silver, 15 mm, 5.26 g, 1 h). Head of a young Kabeiros to left, wearing conical cap. Rev. ΦΑΝΑ Bull butting left; in exergue, barley grain; all within shallow circular incuse. Frolova Type III. HGC 7, 157. MacDonald 74. SNG BM Black Sea 987. SNG Stancomb -. Extremely rare. An exceptional coin, boldly struck, very well centered and of powerful style. Minor marks and with a small flan fault on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine.


Phanagoreia was founded by settlers from Teios fleeing the Persian invasion of Asia Minor in the 540s BC. Named after its founder, Phanagoras of Teos, the city lay on a large bay on the eastern side of the Cimmerian Bosporos on what is today the Taman Peninsula.