‘Tartarughe’ di Methymna

[apollonia]

La piccola città di Metimna sull’isola di Lesbo ha emesso monete dal 500 al 250 a. C., principalmente oboli ed emioboli d’argento, che spesso raffigurano una tartaruga sul rovescio.

Emiobolo (CNG Electronic Auction 182).

LESBOS, Methymna. Circa 350/30-250/40 BC. AR Hemiobol (6mm, 0.34 g, 6h). Facing head of Silenos / Tortoise in linear circle within shallow incuse circle. Franke, Münzprägung -; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC -; Traité II 2262. Near VF, some encrustation.

 

 

[apollonia]

Obolo (Nomos 8).

LESBOS, Methymna. Circa 450/40-406/379 BC. Obol (Silver, 7mm, 0.44 g 2). Helmeted head of Athena to right. Rev. Sea turtle surrounded by a rayed border within an incuse square. Cf. Gorny & Mosch 170, 1419 (same dies). Very rare. Well centered but with somewhat rough surfaces. Very fine.

From a northern European collection.
 

This coin is ascribed to Methymna thanks to the attribution of other pieces with similar types to that island. They have also been ascribed to Lykia, but since their find spots seem to be more in northwestern Asia Minor than anywhere else Methymna is surely more likely.

 

[apollonia]

Tritartemorion o emiobolo (CNG 334).

LESBOS, Methymna. Circa 450-400 BC. AR Tritartemorion or Hemiobol(?) (6mm, 0.30 g, 6h). Turtle / Wreath within incuse circle. Franke, Münzprägung –; SNG Kayhan 96; HGC 6, –. VF, porous.

 

[apollonia]

1/48 di Statere (CNG 311).

LESBOS, Methymna(?). Circa 450/40-406/379 BC. AR Forty-Eighth Stater(?) (7mm, 0.35 g). Turtle / Wreath in incuse circle. Franke, Münzprägung –; HGC 6, –; SNG Kayhan 96. Near VF, dark find patina.

From the Daniel Koppersmith Collection. Ex Peter Lee Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 286, 5 September 2012), lot 91.

 

[paparoupa]

Hmmmm wreath points to elaia the turtle to methymna, I would bet elaia was finally somewhere on the opposite coast of methymna and who knows if this coin commemorates some kind of Union or cooperation

[apollonia]

4 ore fa, paparoupa dice:

Hmmmm wreath points to elaia the turtle to methymna, I would bet elaia was finally somewhere on the opposite coast of methymna and who knows if this coin commemorates some kind of Union or cooperation

I've got some elaia bronze

 

I don't know any with a turtle or a tortoise.

 

[apollonia]

The wreath is clearly visible on the reverse of the coin shown at post #3. In fact, the combination with the turtle can commemorate a kind of twinning (union or cooperation) between the two cities, despite the lack of the ear of corn within wreath characteristic of the Elaia’s bronzes.

 

[apollonia]

Tetartemorion (Numismatik Naumann 29).

LESBOS. Methymna. Tetartemorion (Circa 500/480-460 BC).
Obv: Turtle.
Rev: Wreath.
Franke, Münzprägung -; SNG Kayhan 96; HGC 6, -.
Condition: Very fine.
Weight: 0.32 g. Diameter: 7 mm.

 

[apollonia]

Obolo con testa di Atena a destra (Numismatik Naumann 33).

LESBOS. Methymna. Obol (Circa 500-460 BC).
Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right.
Rev: Turtle within beaded linear border.
SNG von Aulock -; Klein 793; HGC 6, 891.
Condition: Good very fine.
Weight: 0.55 g. Diameter: 8 mm.

 

[apollonia]

Obolo con una tartaruga d'origine misteriosa (CNG 96).

LESBOS, Methymna. Circa 500-450 BC. AR Obol (9mm, 0.51 gm). Helmeted head of Athena left / Turtle in incuse dotted square. BMC -; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock -; SNG Kayhan -; Rosen -. Good VF, light porosity. Very rare, and unpublished in the standard refrences.

This obol has been attributed to a Lycian dynast (cf. Klein 793), but the Athena portrait is identical to that on coins of Methymna. The turtle might be a connection to the "pseudoaeginetan" series, whose origin remains a mystery.

 

 

 

[apollonia]

Emiobolo del tipo Testa di Atena/Tartaruga acquistato dalla Savoca 11th blue auction.

Lesbos. Methymna circa 500-460 BC. Hemiobol AR, 6 mm, 0.45 g.
Helmeted head of Athena left / Tortoise within linear square border within incuse square. Very fine.

Franke, Münzprägung -; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock -; Klein 793 var, (obol / Athena right / dotted border, “Uncertain”); Rosen -; Traité -.