Sinope in Paphlagonia, Miletos AR Drachm 490-425 BC Ancient Greek Silver Coin Head of Sea-Eagle on Obverse Museum Reproduction CSGDS0021

Long used as a Hittite port, Sinope was re-founded as a Greek colony by Miletus in the 7th century B.C. Sinope flourished as the Black Sea port of a caravan route that led from the upper Euphrates valley. The city escaped Persian domination until the early 4th century B.C. In 183 B.C. it was captured by Pharnaces I and became the capital of the kingdom of Pontus. Lucullus conquered Sinope for Rome in 70 B.C., and Julius Caesar established a Roman colony there, Colonia Julia Felix, in 47 B.C. It remained with the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantines). It was a part of the Empire of Trebizond from the sacking of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade in 1204 until the capture of the city by the Seljuk Turks of Rûm in 1214.

Diogenes the Cynic, also known as Diogenes of Sinope, was a Greek philosopher and one of the founders of Cynic philosophy. His father was a banker responsible for minting coins for the Sinope. When Diogenes took to “defacement of the currency” he was banished from the city.
DESIGN:
Obverse side
Crude sea-eagle head left
Legend:
Anepigraphic

Reverse side
Quadrapartite incuse square with diagonal quarters filled; pellet in stippled sunken quarters
Legend:
Anepigraphic

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