102. SKYTHIA, Tyra. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ Tetrassarion (24mm, 7.20 g, 11h). Struck circa AD 205-208. Ũt  Å-¨r Å@tw@(5@o1, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / tUrÅ@W@, Caracalla, holding spear in right hand, riding right on galloping horse; d (mark of value) below. Anokhin 109 corr. (obv. legend); Zograph, Tyra 83a; SNG Pushkin –; cf. SNG Stancomb 921; Sutzu II –. Near VF, dark brown patina, surface roughness. Very rare. ($150)
103. SKYTHIA, Tyra. Geta. As Caesar, AD 198-209. Æ Diassarion (17mm, 3.00 g, 12h). Struck circa AD 202-204. ∏ 1(∏t5 ˝(tÅ1 ˚Å[51], draped bust right / tUrÅ@W@, eagle standing left, head right, holding wreath in beak; ∫ (mark of value) to right. Anokhin 100; Zograph, Tyra 80; SNG Pushkin –; SNG Stancomb –; cf. Sutzu II 280. Near VF, dark brown patina, some minor pitting. Rare. ($100)
Kings of Skythia Coins of the Skythian kings are relatively rare. Two are represented in the present collection, Skyles and Skilouros. Skyles was a king who lived circa 500 BC, and was mentioned by Herodotos (4.78–80). The son of Skythian King Ariapeithes and a Greek woman, he was of mixed blood, and took more to Hellenic culture. This tendency toward Greek culture set him apart from his subjects, and this trait was used against him by his brother Oktamasadas, who led a successful rebellion against Skyles. The coins attributed to Skyles are all cast bronze, featuring an owl on the obverse and either a four-spoke wheel or the letters ΣK on the reverse. The types with the wheel reverse have the letters ΣKYΛ on the obverse. All of these coin types have been found in Nikonion, which must have been the location of their mint. The attribution of these coins to the Skythian king is still debatable. Skilouros was a Skythian king who ruled circa 130-114/3 BC. Although his capital was Neapolis in the Tauric Chersonesos, all of his coinage was struck at Olbia. His coins are all bronze, and although they are quite rare today, the fact that there are six general types suggests that his coinage was relatively extensive. Very little is known of his reign, except for his attacks against the city of Chersonesos, which forced the inhabitants of the city to appeal to Mithradates VI of Pontos for help. Mithradates’s forces successfully defended the city, which then became a part of his kingdom. Skilouros died during this conflict, which was continued by his son and successor, Palak. Other than the literary evidence regarding this incident, evidence of Skilouros’ reign is provided by his coinage at Olbia, which attests to the extent of his authority over this city.
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104. KINGS of SKYTHIA. Skyles. Circa 470-460 BC. Æ (13mm, 1.40 g, 3h). Nikonion mint. Owl standing left, head facing / Large s˚. Anokhin 571; Alram –; SNG BM Black Sea –; SNG Pushkin –; SNG Stancomb –; Sutzu II –. Good Fine, dark brown patina. Extremely rare, approximately 6 known, 3 of which are in museums. ($750) All of the known examples of this rare issue are in rather poor condition, making this one of the better pieces.
105. KINGS of SKYTHIA. Skilouros. Circa 140-114/3 BC. Æ (16mm, 3.77 g, 12h). Olbia mint. Struck circa 140-130 BC. Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath / [∫]Å%5¬EW[%] %˚5¬oUr[o%], kithara; o¬ below. Anokhin 578 (this coin illustrated); Frolova, Skilura –; Alram –; SNG BM Black Sea –; SNG Pushkin –; SNG Stancomb –; Sutzu II –. VF, black patina, a couple spots of roughness on obverse. Extremely rare. ($300)
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