CIMMERIAN BOSPOROS. Pantikapaion. Circa 380-370 BC. Diobol (Silver, 13 mm, 1.88 g, 12 h). Head of Silenos, balding, bearded and with animal ears, to left, wearing ivy wreath. Rev. ΠANTI Head of a ram to left; all within shallow circular incuse. HGC 7, 73. MacDonald 53. SNG BM Black Sea -. SNG Stancomb 532. Very rare and with a marvelous head of Silenos of particularly fine style. Somewhat granular, otherwise, good very fine.


The name Pantikapaion is derived from the local Iranian expression 'Panti Kapa', which means 'fish route', hinting at one of the area's greatest natural resources, the exceptionally rich fisheries of the Sea of Azov. The wealth acquired through the export of fish and other commodities allowed Pantikapaion to hire the finest artists of the time, resulting in the production of dies of spectacular power and beauty, as with this masterpiece.