In Praise of Bronze. A Coin of Pantikapaion

The obverse of this bronze coin from Pantikapaion in Thrace is the head of satyr facing right which is mostly identified as Pan (though I have seen Silenus as an alternative); the reverse is the head of a griffin facing left with the letters Π and Α surrounding (this would have completed with N). It was minted sometime towards the end of the 4th century BC. Understanding the value of bronze coins is more of a challenge than silver ones as they are in practice fait money (the weight of bronze does not represent the value that they would have been accepted at). The guide I use is:

8 bronze Chalkon = 4 silver Tetartemorion = 1 silver Obol • 6 Obols = 1 silver Drachm

Of course there is still a need to be able to identify the value of the coin and for bronzes this based on weight and design. Based on the weight this coin is a 4-Chalcous (hemi-obol). Whilst I tend not to purchase bronze coins for display purposes, this is not because there are not excellent examples of fine craftsmanship but that the patina often makes the features less visible. However I often collect them because of the theme - in this case mythology – or to assist in researching a particular type or region.

Pantikapaion was founded on the eastern shores of Taurica (modern Crimea) in the late 7th or early 6th century BC by the Milesians and later became the seat of the Greek Archaeanactid dynasty. It survived into the first century BC when it was partially destroyed by an earthquake and was subjected to raids by surrounding tribes.

Pan was a pastoral god with the legs of a goat and horns on his head. In Greek mythology he fell in love with the nymph Syrinx who tried to avoid his attentions by appealing to Zeus, who hid her by turning her into reeds. Pan destroyed the reeds but was then sorrowful. Sweeping them up he tried to kiss them and at that moment discovered that breathing on them created sounds. This is where we get ‘pan-pipes’ from. You also see him appearing on the reverse side of coins minted for the Arcadian League.