PAPHLAGONIA. Sinope. Circa 330-300 BC. 'Drachm' (Lead, 21 mm, 4.63 g, 4 h). Head of the nymph Sinope to left, her hair bound in a sakkos, wearing triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace. Rev. [ΣINΩ] Sea-eagle with spread wings standing on a dolphin to left. A highly interesting weight or tessera. Edge chipped, otherwise, about very fine.


This remarkable object is certainly from Sinope, although its function remains uncertain. Its types are identical to those of the city’s early Hellenistic drachms, but it is unclear whether it is a coin weight or a tessera.