Mesembria, Thrace Extremely Rare AR Tetradrachm 420-320 BC Ancient Greek Silver Coin Corinthian Helmet Museum Reproduction CSGT0051

Mesembria (Mesambria) was a Doric settlement on an island at the Black Sea coast. Today a man-made isthmus connects it to the mainland. The modern name is Nesebar, an important seaside resort. Several ancient churches and ruins are preserved on the peninsula.

Mesembria, Nesebar Bulgaria today, was a Doric settlement on a Black Sea island just off mainland Thrace. Thrace was invaded by the Galatians in 279 B.C. Only the wealthy coastal cities, including Mesembria, withstood their attacks. Following that chaos, rule of Thrace was divided between many tribes. Philip V, 221 – 179 B.C., tried to regain control of the area for the Macedonian Kingdom, but his success was limited and short lived. Mesembria was taken by Mithradates VI in the First Mithradatic War and surrendered to Rome in 71 B.C. The city struck Alexandrine tetradrachms as early as 275 B.C., more than 50 years after Alexander’s death, and probably issued the very last Alexandrine tetradrachms struck anywhere, possibly under Roman rule as late as 65 B.C.
The Corinthian helmet originated in ancient Greece and took its name from the city-state of Corinth . It was a helmet made of bronze which in its later styles covered the entire head and neck, with slits for the eyes and mouth. A large curved projection protected the nape of the neck. It also protected the cheek bones, which Greeks adored.
Out of combat, a Greek hoplite would wear the helmet tipped upward for comfort. This practice gave rise to a series of variant forms in Italy, where the slits were almost closed, since the helmet was no longer pulled over the face but worn cap-like. Although the classical Corinthian helmet fell out of use among the Greeks in favour of more open types, the Italo-Corinthian types remained in use until the 1st century AD, being used, among others, by the Roman army.
DESIGN:
Obverse side
Crested Corinthian helmet facing
Legend:
Anepigraphic

Reverse side
Radiate wheel with four spokes
Legend:
M-E-Σ-A (T = archaic Greek letter sampi = ΣΣ), with additional small ethnic lettering in each spoke (ΑΝΘ-ΕΣΤ-ΗΔΙ-ΟΣ)

A perfect choice for Numismatists, Historians, Military Veterans, Collectors