Dolphin

Features

Issuer	Olbia (Skythia)
Type	Standard circulation coins
Years	437 BC - 410 BC
Currency	Drachm
Composition	Brąz
Weight	95.48 g
Size	104 mm
Shape	Inny
Technique	Cast
Demonetized	Yes
Number	N# 378438
References	Anokhin# 173 Vladlen Opanasovych Anokhin; 2011. Античные монеты Северного Причерноморья = Antique coins of the Northern Black Sea coastal region. Stilos, Kyiv, Ukraine. , SNG BM Black Sea# 359 Martin Jessop Price; 1993. Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum (Great Britain) / Volume 9.1. The British Museum. Part 1: The Black Sea. British Museum, London, United Kingdom. , SNG Moskau# 244 Mikhail Grigorevich Abramzon, Nina Andreevna Frolova, Ulrike Peter; 2019. Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum Russland, Staatliches Historisches Museum Moskau, Münzen des Nördlichen Schwarzmeergebietes = Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum Russland, Moscow State Historical Museum, Coins of the Northern Black Sea Region. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, Germany. , Anokhin cities# 17 Vladlen Opanasovych Anokhin; 1989. Монеты античных городов Северо-Западного Причерноморья = Coins of the ancient cities of the North-Western Black Sea Region. Наукова думка, Kyiv, Ukraine.

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Obverse

Delfin skaczący w prawo, z wyraźnym centralnym grzbietem i czterema pionowymi liniami, okrągłe oko. Automatically translated

Reverse

Gładka wypukła powierzchnia z małym + w reliefie. Automatically translated

Mint

Olbia, Moesia, Ukraine

Comments

Słynne odlewane delfiny z milezyjskiej kolonii Olbia wyewoluowały z wcześniejszej formy pieniądza w postaci strzał. Małe nominały były produkowane w dużych ilościach na potrzeby lokalnego handlu z zapleczem Scytii, ale duże nominały - takie jak ten typ, który waży prawie 100 gramów, dwadzieścia do pięćdziesięciu razy więcej niż mniejsze delfiny - są niezwykle rzadkie. Prawdopodobnie zbyt nieporęczne i kruche do powszechnej produkcji, zostały ostatecznie wyparte przez odlewane okrągłe monety miejskie.

This is an automatic translation. The original text is:

The renowned cast dolphin currency of the Milesian colony of Olbia evolved from an earlier form of arrow money. Small denominations were produced in great numbers for local trade with the Scythian hinterland, but large denominations - such as this type, which, at nearly 100 grams, weighs twenty to fifty times more than the smaller dolphins - are exceedingly rare. Likely too cumbersome and fragile for widespread production, they were eventually supplanted by the city's cast round coinage.

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Date					VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
Undetermined
ND (437 BC - 410 BC)

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Numista Rarity index: 95 Search tips

This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

Examples of the type

SNG BM Black Sea 359

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Past sales

Pictures	Sale	Date	Grade	Sold price
	Heritage Auctions 2016 January 3 - 4 NYINC World Coins & Ancient Coins Signature Auction - New York 3044 Lot 31024	4 Jan 2016	XF	USD 39 950.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Leu Numismatik Auction 17 Lot 96	31 May 2025	VF	USD 9502.67 (CHF 7500.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Leu Numismatik