From the Tunny of Cyzicus in Mysia to the Kings of Pergamon

Located in the northwest of Anatolia, in a strategic geography embraced by the Marmara and Aegean Seas, Mysia is one of the most dynamic and numismatically rich regions of the ancient world.

Defined as a geographical region, Mysia remained under the dominion of great powers such as Lydia, Persia, Pergamon, and finally Rome throughout history, yet managed to preserve its unique economic and cultural identity amidst these political changes. The most tangible and lasting expression of this identity is found in the coins issued from the mints of the region's two great metropolises, Cyzicus and Pergamon. This numismatic journey, extending from the electrum staters of Cyzicus that guided international trade to the dynastic coinage of the kings of Pergamon, is a metallic record of Mysia's power and wealth in the ancient world.  

Mysia's numismatic heritage was largely shaped by these two colossal cities. Cyzicus, located on the coast of the Propontis (Sea of Marmara), established an empire in fishing and maritime trade thanks to its strategic position. This economic power spread throughout the Mediterranean with the electrum coins it minted from the 6th century BCE onwards, bearing the figure of the tunny fish, which became the city's signature emblem. These staters, known as "Kyzikenes," gained such widespread acceptance that they became one of the ancient world's first international currencies, used as a standard in trade alongside Persian darics.  

To the south of the region, Pergamon (Bergama) was rising. Initially a more modest city, Pergamon transformed into one of the most brilliant kingdoms of the Hellenistic period as the capital of the Attalid Dynasty after the death of Alexander the Great. The power of this kingdom was expressed through conservatively designed silver tetradrachms bearing the portrait of its founder, Philetaerus, which continued for generations. The kingdom's economic zenith came in the 2nd century BCE with the introduction of the "Cistophorus" (basket-bearer) tetradrachms, put into circulation to create a standard currency throughout its dominion. These coins were the most important instrument of Pergamon's strategy to establish regional economic hegemony.  

However, Mysia's numismatic wealth was not limited to these two major centers alone. The region hosted more than 28 different mints throughout history. Lampsacus, on the coast of the Hellespont (Dardanelles), was renowned for its gold staters of high artistic quality. Other cities such as Parium, Adramyttium, Miletopolis, and Atarneus also minted their own coins, usually in bronze, in accordance with their local needs and identities. These smaller mints demonstrate how vibrant and multi-layered the region's economic network was. Examples such as the Persian satrap Orontes minting coins in his own name at Adramyttium are numismatic reflections of the region's complex political structure.  

The history of Mysia is a tale of successive empires. The Mysians, mentioned as allies of Troy in Homer's Iliad, fell under the dominion of Lydia with its rise, and subsequently became a satrapy of the Persian Empire. Incorporated into the Hellenistic world by Alexander the Great's conquest, the region came under the control of one of his generals, Lysimachus, and ultimately witnessed the birth of the Kingdom of Pergamon. With the last king of Pergamon bequeathing his kingdom to Rome in 133 BCE, Mysia became part of Rome's Province of Asia.  

This long and layered history can be read in the diversity of Mysian coinage. The tunny of Cyzicus tells of the city's unwavering economic identity; the royal portraits of Pergamon, the rise of a dynasty, and the Cistophori, the ambition to be a regional power; the gold of Lampsacus, artistic elegance and wealth; and the local coins of dozens of other smaller cities, daily life and trade in the shadow of these great powers. A numismatic tour of Mysia, therefore, is not merely about collecting coins, but also about discovering how economy, politics, and art were inscribed on metal at one of ancient Anatolia's most important crossroads.

Source:
https://asiaminorcoins.com/mysia.html
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/395865679_Fishing_and_Tuna_Trade_in_Kyzikos
https://www.henzen.org/en/greekworld-asia-mysia.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pergamon