KINGS OF SKYTHIA. Skyles, circa 465-447/5 BC. Cast unit (Bronze, 31 mm, 15.58 g), Nikonion. ΣΚΥ Owl standing left, head facing. Rev. Wheel with four spokes; B in quarter between two spokes. Anokhin 570. HGC 3.2, -. Peykov G0020. SNG BM Black Sea -. SNG Stancomb -. An extremely rare large unit. Very fine.



Herodotus reports that Skyles was the son of the Scythian king Ariapeithes and a Greek woman, making him of mixed origin (Hdt. 4.78–80). His base of power was Nikonion, the smallest of three remote Greek poleis in the region, located on the Dniester Liman. Like its neighbors Tyras and Olbia, Nikonion was heavily influenced by its Scythian surroundings and was constantly at risk of losing its autonomy to the tribes. Nevertheless, the multicultural city was also a thriving center of trade and a major exporter of grain.