Myrina

Asia Minor; Greek Coinages, Myrina

Denomination: Tetradrachm, struck c. 160-142

Obverse: laureate head of Apollo right, hair formed into tight screws which fall along neck;

Reverse: ΜΥΡΙΝΑΙΩΝ; Apollo Gryneus (of Gryneium) standing right, holding filleted branch and phiale, omphalos and amphora on ground before; monogram [απ] behind; all within laurel-wreath

Metal: silver; Attic weight standard; 16.78g

Diameter: 33 mm

References: Sacks 20 :

Provenance: ex Auktion Kölner Münzkabinett 26, Köln 1979, Nr. 45.

Note: Myrina (Ancient Greek: Μυρίνα) was one of the Aeolian cities on the western coast of Mysia, about 40 stadia to the southwest of Gryneion.

Its site is believed to be occupied by the modern Sandarlik at the mouth of the Koca Çay,^[2] near the town of Aliağa in İzmir Province, in the Aegean Region of Turkey, near Kalavasari.

It was said that the city was founded by one Myrinus before the other Aeolian cities, or by the Amazon Myrina. Artaxerxes gave Gryneium and Myrina to Gongylus, an Eretrian, who had been banished from his native city for favoring the interests of Persia.

Myrina was a very strong place,^[6] though not very large, and had a good harbor.^[7] Pliny the Elder^[8] mentions the fame of its oysters and that it bore the surname of Sebastopolis; while, according to Syncellus, it was also called Smyrna. An inscription (Bulletin de correspondance hellenique, V, 283) tells that Myrina formed part of the Attalid kingdom in the 3rd century BC. For some time Myrina was occupied by Philip V of Macedon; but the Romans compelled him to evacuate it, and declared the place free.^[9] Under Roman rule, Myrina was part of the Roman province of Asia Prima. It suffered severe earthquakes twice; first in the reign of Tiberius,^[10] on which occasion it received a remission of duties on account of the loss it had sustained, and a second time in the reign of Trajan.^[11] The town was restored each time, and continued to exist until a late period.^[12][when?] It was the birthplace of Agathias, a Byzantine poet and historian of the 6th century. Myrina minted coins in Antiquity, some of which survive. Around 20 AD, Myrina minted a coin celebrating the betrothal of Claudius Drusus, son of the future emperor Claudius, to a daughter of Sejanus, commander of the Praetorian Guard under Tiberius.^[13]

^{Gryneium or Gryneum or Gryneion (Ancient Greek: Γρύνειον), also Grynium or Grynion (Γρύνιον), Grynia or Gryneia (Γρύνεια) and Grynoi (Γρῦνοι),[1] was a city of ancient Aeolis. It was located 40 stadia from Myrina and 70 from Elaea. In early times it was independent, one of the 12 important cities of Aeolis, but afterwards became subject to Myrina. It contained a sanctuary of Apollo with an ancient oracle and a splendid temple of white marble.[2][3][4][5][6] Because of the city Apollo derived the surname of Gryneus.[7] Pausanias wrote that at Gryneium, where there was an amazing grove of Apollo, with cultivated trees, and all those which, although they bear no fruit, are pleasing to smell or look upon.[8]}

Collection : 17 Greek Tetradrachms and staters