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MYSIA

Mysia is an ancient region located in the northwestern corner of Anatolia, situated between Phrygia, Bithynia, Lydia, and the Aegean Sea. Geographically, it roughly covers the eastern parts of modern-day Balıkesir and Çanakkale. The most distinctive feature of the region is that, due to its rich lands and strategic location, it has historically been a contested area for many different powers (especially the Persians, the Attalid Dynasty, and Rome).

Among the most famous cities of Mysia are Pergamon, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, Cyzicus, and Lampsacus. Although the origin of the Mysians is not entirely clear, they are known to have had cultural interactions with Thracian and Phrygian peoples.

Mints of Mysia

The coinage of Mysia reflects the region's developing commercial life and political diversity from the 6th century BCE onwards. The network of mints was concentrated especially in important trade centers near the Aegean coast and the Sea of Marmara.

Key Mints:

  • Pergamon: The capital of the Attalid Dynasty and the most important mint of the Roman period.

  • Cyzicus: One of the most prolific mints of the ancient world.

  • Lampsacus: An important city with a strategic location at the entrance to the Sea of Marmara.

  • Apollonia ad Rhyndacum: Another important center located in the interior.

 

Cyzicus and Pergamon - Commercial Power and Hellenistic Art

The coinage of Mysia represents two main periods and themes: the early commercial power of Cyzicus and the pinnacle of Hellenistic art in Pergamon.

  • Cyzicus Electrum Coinage: The earliest and most famous numismatic products of Mysia are the Electrum (an alloy of gold and silver) coins minted in Cyzicus from the 6th century BCE onwards. Known as 'Cyzicenes', these coins were used as an international medium of exchange in ancient Mediterranean trade.

    • Symbol: The most distinctive feature of the coins is the constant presence of a small tuna fish figure, the emblem of the city.

    • Variety of Types: However, the main motifs on the obverse change with each issue; these motifs include gods, heroes, animals, and mythological figures, demonstrating Cyzicus's artistic creativity.

  • Pergamon and the Attalid Kingdom: In the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, Pergamon became the capital of a great Hellenistic kingdom under the rule of the Attalid kings. Its coinage reflects the wealth of this kingdom and its commitment to Hellenistic art.

    • Tetradrachms: The silver coinage of the Attalids (especially during the reigns of Philetaerus and Eumenes) typically bears the portrait of Philetaerus, the founder of the kingdom, wearing a Phrygian cap (tiara).

    • Local Cults: Depictions of Asclepius (god of healing) and his wife Hygieia, important deities of the city, were frequently used on Pergamon's coinage, emphasizing Pergamon's role as a significant healing center.

  • Roman Imperial Period: With the region becoming a Roman province, local bronze coinage continued to feature portraits of Roman emperors and types depicting the local legends and architectural structures of Mysian cities (Cyzicus, Pergamon).