Ancient Coinage of Kios, Bithynia (Prusias ad Mare)



Located at the head of the Propontis, in Kios, Bithynia or Cius; sacked and renamed Prusias ad Mare by King Prusias I in 202 BC, but renamed back to Kios under the Romans.

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CIVIC AND SEMI-AUTONOMOUS COINAGE
Mionnet Supp V, 1450Kios, Bithynia, AE19, 270-240 BC. 4.12 g. Head of Herakles right, wearing lionskin headdress. / KIANΩN, Club and bow in bowcase, ΔEI monogram below. Mionnet Supp. V, 1450; SNG Cop 384; Pembroke Coll. 865 (part); RecGen p. 315 note.TextImage
RecGen 2•4cfKios, Bithynia, AR Drachm. Circa 350-300 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right, KIA below / ΠΡOX-ENOΣ, Prow of galley left, star on stern. cf SNG Lockett 2676 and RecGen plate XLIX 4 and 18 (stater and hemidrachm of same magistrate).TextImage
RecGen 2•6Kios, Bithynia, AR Drachm. ca 350-300 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / HΓEΣ-TΡATOΣ, prow of galley left. McClean 7459. TextImage
RecGen 3•5cfKios. c350-300 BC. AR Hemidrachm. Laureate head of Apollo right; KIA below / stern;AΡIΣTOKΡATH&, Prow of galley left, star on stern. Cf Rec Gen 2/5 for drachm of this magistrate. TextImage
RecGen 3•9vKios, Bithynia AR Hemidrachm. ca 350-300 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / AΘHNO-ΩΡ..., Prow of galley left, ornamented with star; dolphin to left. BMC 15v. TextImage
RecGen 3•10Kios, Bithynia AR Hemidrachm. ca 350-300 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / A-ΘHNO-ΔΩΡOΣ, Prow of galley left, ornamented with star; grain ear before. Hunterian 1, BMC 4.TextImage
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RecGen 3•11Kios, Bithynia AR Hemidrachm. ca 350-300 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / BAK-XEYΣ, Prow of galley left, ornamented with star. Hunterian 2. TextImage
RecGen 3•12Kios, Bithynia AR Hemidrachm. ca 350-300 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / ΔHMH-TΡIOΣ, prow of galley left. Rec Gen 3, plate XLIX 12. TextImage
RecGen 3•14Kios, Bithynia. c350-300 BC. AR Hemidrachm. Laureate head of Apollo right / MIΛH-TOΣ, Prow of galley left. BMC 6, SNGCop 370. TextImage
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RecGen 3•15Kios, Bithynia. Circa 350-300 BC. AR Hemidrachm. Laureate head of Apollo right / NIKAΣ, Prow of galley left. TextImage
RecGen 3•16Kios, Bithynia AR Hemidrachm. ca 350-300 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / ΠOΣEI-ΔΩNIOΣ, Prow of galley left, ornamented with star. BMC 8-10. TextImage
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RecGen 3•17Kios, Bithynia AR Hemidrachm. ca 350-300 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Π-OΣIΣ, Prow of galley left, ornamented with star; grain ear behind. TextImage
RecGen 3.18
Sear SG 3757
Kios, Bithynia, ca 350-300 BC. AR Hemidrachm 14 mm, 2.37 g. Laureate head of Apollo right, KIA beneath head. / ΠΡOΞ-ENOΣ above and beneath prow of galley left, ornamented with star. BMC 11; SNG Cop 373; RecGen 3,18; SNG vA 504; Hoover HGC 553; Sear SG 3757.TextImage
RecGen 3•19Kios, Bithynia AR Hemidrachm. ca 350-300 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right, KIA below / Σ-ΩΣAN-ΔΡOΣ, Prow of galley left, ornamented with star, grain ear to right. BMC 13, SNG Cop 348, SNG BMC Black Sea 112. TextImage
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RecGen 3•20Kios, Bithynia AR Hemidrachm. ca 350-300 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / ΣΩΣI-ΓENHΣ, Prow of galley left, ornamented with star. SNG Cop 375. TextImage
RecGen 4•16cfKios, Bithynia AR Trihemiobol or Quarter Drachm. ca 350-300 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / ΠOΣEI-ΔΩNIOΣ, prow of galley right. SNG Cop 377; cf Rec Gen 3/16 for hemidrachm of same magistrate. TextImage
RecGen 4•24Kios, Bithynia AR Trihemiobol. ca 350-300 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right, KIA below / ΠΡOΣ-THNOΣ, prow of galley left TextImage
RecGen 6Cius/Kios, Bithynia, AE18. Late 4th c. BC. Bearded head of Mithra right wearing Phrygian cap wreathed with laurels, M below / KIANΩN above club, AΓ and AY monograms below. RecGen 6; BMC 17. TextImage
RecGen 6 (2)Kios, Bithynia, ca 325-300 BC. AE15, 4.07 g. Head of Mithras right, wearing peaked cap / KIANΩN, club, TE and HM monograms below. RecGen 6; SNG Cop. 380.TextImage
RecGen 7Kios, Bithynia. ca 325-300 BC. AE 11mm. Head of Mithras right, in a laureate tiara / K-I-A, kantharos with two grape vines; within wreath of grain. SNGvA 7004. TextImage
RecGen 8Kios, Bithynia, ca 325-300 BC. AE11, 1.58 g. Head of Mithras right, wearing a laureate tiara / K-I, kantharos with two grape vines; all within within wreath of grain. RecGen 8; SNG Cop. 382.TextImage
RecGen 8 varKios, Bithynia, ca 325-300 BC. AE14, 2.82 g. Head of Mithras right, wearing a laureate tiara / No legend, kantharos with two grape vines; all within within wreath of grain. RecGen 8 var (legend lacking); SNG Cop. 382 var (ditto); SNGvA 7004 var (ditto).TextImage
RecGen 18Kios, Bithynia AE 19mm. 3rd century BC. Head of young Herakles right, wearing lionskin headdress / KIANΩN ΔI, club and bow in bow-case. SNG Cop 384v. TextImage
RecGen 23Prusias ad Mare (Kios), Bithynia. AE24, 9.19 gr. ca. 72 AD. Bearded bare head of Herakles right / ΠΡOYΣIEΩN TΩN ΠΡOΣ ΘAΛΛAΣΣHI, Bow in bowcase and club. BMC 28; RecGen 23 (same dies).TextImage
RPC 2021Kios as Prusias ad Mare, Bithynia, Orodaltis, daughter of King Lykomedes of Comana. Mid-late 1st century BC. AE19. 4.91 g. ΩΡOΔAΛTIΔOΣ BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYKOMHΔOYΣ ΘYΓATΡOΣ, diademed and draped bust right / ΠΡOYΣIEΩN ΠΡOΣ ΘAΛAΣΣH around winged thunderbolt, all within wreath. RPC I 2021; RecGen 27.TextImage
LYSIMACHOS
Thompson 180 Kingdom of Thrace, Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Kios mint, circa 288-281 BC. Head of deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena seated left, holding Nike, left elbow resting on her shield; monogram above knee, club below throne, grain ear in exergue. TextImage
mek 162 Kingdom of Thrace, Lysimachus AR Tetradrachm. Kios, posthumous issue, before ca 200 BC. Diademed head of deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena seated left, holding Nike & resting elbow on grounded shield, transverse spear in background, club in outer left field, gorytus & unclear monogram in ex.TextImage
Meyd 2668Kingdom of Thrace, Lysimachus AR Tetradrachm. Kios mint, posthumous issue, before ca 235 BC. Diademed, horned head of Alexander the Great right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena Nikephoros seated left, club in outer left field, MYO monogram in inner left field, bow in bowcase and TΛ monogram in ex. TextImage
CLAUDIUS
RPC 2023Claudius, AE29 of Kios (Cius) Bithynia. AD 41-54. TI KΛAYΔIOΣ ΣEBAΣTOΣ ΓEΡMANIKOΣ, bare head right. / HΡAKΛEOYΣ KTIΣTOY KIANΩN, club covered with lionskin. Countermark Δ. RPC I 2023; RecGen 32; Paris 472; von Aulock 7005.TextImage
RPC 2024Claudius, AE22 of Kios (Cius), Bithynia. AD 41-54. 7.86 g. TI KΛAYΔIOΣ ΣEBAΣTOΣ ΓEΡMANIKOΣ, bare head right. / HΡAKΛEOYΣ KTIΣTHΣ KIANΩN, bowcase with bow and arrows. RPC 2024 (rev legend corrected in RPC Supplement); RecGen 33; Paris 473; SNG von Aulock 509; SNG Cop 388.TextImage
VESPASIAN
RPC 622Vespasian, AE of Prusias ad Mare, 6.83 g. AYTOKΡATO[ΡI KAIΣAΡI ΣEBAΣTΩ] OYΣΠAΣIANΩ ΠΡO, laureate head right / EΠI MAΡKOY ΠΛANKIOY OYAΡOY ANΘYΠATO, club, quiver and bow. RPC 622; RecGen 3 (Prusias ad Hypium).TextImage
DOMITIAN
RPC 624Domitian, AE25 of Cius (Kios, as Prusias), Bithynia. AD 81-96. AYT ΔOMITIANOΣ KAIΣAΡ ΣE ΓEΡ, laureate head right. / ΠΡOY-ΣIEΩ-N in three lines within wreath. RPC II 624; Paris 1577; RecGen (Prusias ad Hypium) 10.TextImage
SABINA
Rec Gen 36Sabina, AE31 of Kios, Bithynia. AD 128-137. 20.23 g. CABEINAN CEBACTHN, draped bust right, wearing stephane / AΔΡIANΩN KIANΩN, Dikaiosyne standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae. RecGen 36; Burstein 20.TextImage
ANTINOUS
Blum Incert 2 varAntinous, AE38 Medallion of Kios, Bithynia. 36.42 g. ANTINOΩ ΠANI, bare head left / No legend, horse standing right. Blum "Incertaines", 2 and pl. IV, 14 var (same reverse but described in the text as a bull in error). Not in RecGen, Imhoof, Isegrim, etc.TextImage
CNG 130-282Antinoüs AE38 of Kios, Bithynia. ANTINOΩΣ HΡOΣ, bare-headed, half-length bust of Antinoüs right, holding sceptre over shoulder / KIANΩN AΔΡIANOI above and beneath bull standing right. CNG 130-282.TextImage
Rec Gen 37Antinous, AE37 medallion of Kios, Bithynia. Ca AD 130, 33.62 g. ANTINOOC HΡΩC, bare head left / HΡΩKIANOI AΔΡIANOI ANTI-NΩN around and across fields, nude male figure standing left, holding purse(?), right hand on hip. RecGen 37.TextImage
MARCUS AURELIUS
Prowe 1913, 14Marcus Aurelius as Caesar, AE28 of Cius, Bithynia. AD 161-180. M AYΡHΛ ANTΩNINOC KAICAΡ, bare-headed, draped, cuirassed bust right. / KIANΩN, Zeus standing left, holding patera and sceptre. Prowe (2013) 14 corr. ("Elagabalus", this coin).TextImage
SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
Behr 392Septimius Severus, AE31 of Kios, Bithynia. AD 193-211. 19.33 g. AYTO CEOHΡOC AYΓOYCTO, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / KIANΩN (N retrograde), Serapis seated left, holding patera and sceptre. Baron Behr Coll. 392; Drexler ("Der Isis- und Sarapis-Cultus..") Cius 1. Not in RecGen, BMC, SNG Cop, SNG von Aulock etc.TextImage
JULIA DOMNA
Helios 5, 624Julia Domna, AE of Kios, Bithynia. 12.14 g. IOVΛIA ΔOMNA CEBAC, draped bust right / AΔΡIANΩN KIANΩN, Tyche standing right, holding sceptre and cornucopiae. Isegrim -; RecGen 59 var; Lindgren I 111 var (attributes and obv. legend), apparently unpublished. Helios 5, lot 624.TextImage
CARACALLA
RecGen 64vCaracalla, AE of Kios, Bithynia. 16.90 g. M AVΡHΛ ANTΩNINOC KAICAΡ, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right / KIANΩN, Serapis seated left, holding patera and sceptre. SNG Cop 390 var (obv legend); RecGen 64 var (ditto).TextImage
Rec Gen 65Caracalla, AE26 of Kios, Bithynia. AD 198-217. 9.35 g. M AYΡ ANTΩNINOC AYΓOY, laureate head right / KIANΩN EΛEYΘEΡΩN, helmeted, cuirassed bust of Athena right, aegis on chest. RecGen 65 corr. (rev. legend); Imhoof 27 in RSN 1913 (as Elagabalus); BMC 42 (ditto).TextImage
GETA
Mionnet 1475Geta, AE32 of Kios, Bithynia. 198-209 AD. Λ CEΠTI ΓETAC KAI, bare-headed, draped bust right / KIANΩN AΔΡIANΩN, Herakles Farnese standing right, right hand behind back, resting left on club set on rock. Mionnet Supp. V, 1475 corr.TextImage
RecGen 72Geta, AE18 of Kios, Bithynia. AD 198-209. 4.15 g. Λ CEΠTI ΓETAC KAI, bare head right. / KIANΩN, Eros standing right, legs crossed, leaning on tree trunk. RecGen 72; Mionnet Supp. V, 1475.TextImage
MACRINUS
RecGen 66cfBithynia, Cius. Macrinus AE 18. MAKΡEINOC AVΓOVCTOC, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right / KIANΩN, Thanatos, winged Genius of Death, leaning on torch right, extinguishing it on a low column. cf Rec Gen 66 of Caracalla. TextImage
ELAGABALUS
RecGen 80Elagabalus, AE22 of Cius, Bithynia. 6.32g, 22mm. 218-222 AD. M AYΡ ANTΩNINOC AYΓ, laureate head right / KIANΩN, Two goats standing on their hind legs, facing each other, each with one foot on an amphora between them. Weber 4868; RecGen 80; BMC 41.TextImage
SEVERUS ALEXANDER
RecGen 88vSeverus Alexander, AE18 of Kius, Bithynia. 222-235 AD. AΛEXANΔΡOC, laureate head right / KIA-NΩN, Herakles standing facing, head left, lionskin over left arm, leaning on club. RecGen 88 var (obv. legend). TextImage
ORBIANA
G & N 23, 536Orbiana, AE26 of Kios, Bithynia. AD 225-227. 10.43 g. Γ C EΠ B OΡBIANH AYΓ, draped bust right / KIANΩN, Kybele seated left between two lions, holding patera and resting left arm on drum. Apparently unpublished. Pecunem Gitbud & Naumann 23, 536.TextImage
MAXIMUS
Noury Bey 1327Maximus, AE25 of Kios, Bithynia. AD 235-238. 6.25 g. Γ IOY OYH MAXIMOC K, bare-headed, draped, cuirassed bust right. / KIANΩN, two goats standing on their hind legs facing each other, each with one foot on an amphora between them. Noury Bey 1327 (this coin); Paris 1972.1192; Berlin 1903.834.TextImage
SNG vA 511Maximus, AE19 of Kios, Bithynia. AD 235-238. 3.84 g. Γ IOY OYH MAXIMOC K, bare-headed, draped bust right / KIANΩN, Winged Thanatos standing right, legs crossed, leaning on inverted torch. SNG von Aulock 511.TextImage
GORDIAN III
BMC 1975-411-66Gordian III, AE24 of Kius, Bithynia. 7.26 g. AD 238-244. M ANT ΓOΡΔIANOC AYΓ, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield / KIANΩN, Hygieia standing right, feeding serpent in arms. BMC_1975-411-66 otherwise unpublished. Not in RecGen, SNG Cop, SNG von Aulock, Winsemann, Mionnet, Cologne etc. This reverse is known for Tranquillina (RecGen 108).TextImage
TRANQUILLINA
RecGen 109Tranquillina AE 25mm of Cius, Bithynia. CABEINA TΡANKYΛΛEINA, diademed & draped bust right / KIANΩN, Tyche standing facing, head left, holding rudder & cornucopiae. SNG von Aulock 513, SNG Cop 396.TextImage
RPC VII 1880Tranquillina, AE23 of Kios, Bithynia. 6.97 g. CABEI TΡANKYΛΛEINA, draped bust right, wearing stephane. / KIANΩN, two goats rearing on their hind legs facing each other, amphora between them. RPC VII.2 1880; RecGen 111; Paris 506; BMC 46; SNG Cop 397; SNG Hunter 1069.TextImage
SNG Cop 397Tranquillina, AE22 of Kios, Bithynia. 238-244 AD. CABEI TΡANKYΛΛEINA, diademed and draped bust right, wearing stephane / KIA-NΩN, two goats standing on their back legs, amphora between them. SNG Cop 397; BMC 46; Hunter 9; RecGen 111 var (obv. legend).TextImage
PHILIP I
G & N 35, 399Philip I, AE28 of Kios, Bithynia. AD 244-249. 11.91 g. M IOYΛIOC ΦIΛIΠΠOC AYΓ, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / KIANΩN, Serapis standing front, looking left, holding sceptre and raising right hand. Apparently unpublished reverse for Philip I (or II). G&N 35, 399. This reverse known for Valerian (RecGen 127); and Gallienus (RecGen 133 etc but with altar).TextImage
GALLIENUS
Rec Gen 136Gallienus AE18 of Kios, Bithynia. AD 253-268. 3.17 g. AYT ΓAΛΛHNOC AYΓ, Radiate and draped bust right / KIANΩN, Two goats rampant with their forelegs standing on amphora between them. RecGen 136; Borrell 6 in NC 1844.TextImage
Entry for Kios, Bithynia on the Digital Historia Numorum
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