Kyzikos, Capital of the Tuna Empire
Located in the northwest of Anatolia, on the southern coast of the Propontis (Sea of Marmara), Kyzikos was one of the wealthiest and most economically influential city-states of the ancient world. Its strategic location,
placed it at the heart of the maritime trade routes between Asia and Europe. However, Kyzikos's true wealth came not from its land, but from its sea. The massive schools of tuna (tunny fish) migrating annually between the Black Sea and the Aegean formed the foundation of the city's prosperity. This natural bounty not only made Kyzikos a fishing hub but also transformed it into a "Tuna Empire" that created one of the ancient world's most renowned and reliable currencies. The emblem of this empire was the tuna symbol struck on every coin issued from the city's mint.
Kyzikos's numismatic history dates back to the 600s BCE, and even these early coins clearly reveal the city's identity: the tuna. This fish was the economic DNA of the city. Tuna fishing, salting, and the production of fish sauce (garum) were Kyzikos's most important industrial activities. Therefore, it was a highly logical step for them to place this symbol on their coins as a brand and a seal of guarantee shortly after the invention of coinage. The figure of the tuna on a Kyzikos coin was a declaration that the coin's weight and purity were guaranteed by Kyzikos's unwavering economic power.
Kyzikos's true fame came with the electrum (gold-silver alloy) staters it began minting from the 550s BCE. Known as "Kyzikenes," these coins became one of the ancient world's first true international currencies. Alongside the gold darics of the Persian Empire, they were accepted as a standard in commercial transactions across a wide geographical area, from the Aegean to the Black Sea, and from Greece to Egypt. The value of a Kyzikene stater was equivalent to approximately 28 silver drachms, and this high value made it ideal for large commercial agreements and military payments.
The most fascinating feature of Kyzikene staters is their combination of consistent brand identity with incredible artistic diversity. While the reverse of the coins bore a simple quadripartite incuse square, a typical feature of the period, their obverses were like an encyclopedia of mythology. To date, over 270 different obverse designs have been recorded, and this number is constantly increasing. These designs include gods and heroes such as Zeus, Herakles, and Nike; mythological creatures like griffins, sphinxes, and Scylla; powerful animals such as lions, bulls, and eagles; and even figures like a kneeling archer. However, in each of these designs, the famous tuna fish was invariably present, either as part of the main figure or as a small emblem at the bottom.
This strategy reveals Kyzikos's numismatic genius. While the constantly changing designs made counterfeiting difficult, the ever-present tuna emblem preserved the coin's identity and reliability. This artistic diversity transformed Kyzikos coins from mere means of payment into highly aesthetic and desirable collector's items.
Kyzikos's economic power reached its peak with the minting of gold staters in the 4th century BCE. However, the city's importance gradually declined during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. With the rise of its rival Pergamon and Rome's dominance over the region, Kyzikos lost its former economic power. Its mint was abandoned in the 7th and 8th centuries CE, and the city slowly faded from the stage of history. However, the legacy it left behind continues to live on through thousands of electrum and silver coins. Each Kyzikene stater is not merely an ancient coin, but a miniature monument narrating the power, art, and commercial genius of a "Tuna Empire" built on wealth from the sea.
Source:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/395865679_Fishing_and_Tuna_Trade_in_Kyzikos
https://www.henzen.org/en/greekworld-asia-mysia.php
https://coinweek.com/sea-creatures-on-ancient-coins/
https://www.numiscorner.com/blogs/news/mythical-mysia
https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/numiscorner/239/product/mysia_stater_ca_550450_bc_kyzikos_electrum__sngvonaulock1181/1819972/Default.aspx
https://www.erdek.bel.tr/kyzikos-antik-kenti