Dolphin with Olbie

Ahoj.

Good day colleagues, my questions:

One can really speak of a pre-coin currency since already at that time (-400--410 BC.) round coins were already minted and cast in Greece?

 Wasn't it just a local idea?

What do the letters on the dolphin's body mean? It's "O Y" or "OV", we'll say it's OU??

N#170813

Metal is Bronze, weight is 1.38g and length 26.58mm, height 9.05mm

Sample size:

I have only ever seen the Olbia dolphin, 

Coinage was develloped in different parts of the world in different times so in my opinion the “dolphin money” could be seen as “pre-coinage money” as well as the celtic ring money or chinese knive money. I have some problems with roman “Aes Rudea” that for me looks more as the crude metal from the production process where the only value war the value due to its weight and it does not come with any sign or mark that guarantees value or weight.

For the greek lettering I just know that it is relatively rare but it can also be found on later coins from Olbia. Thus I would assume it to be a mark of the origin of the coin.

kbieger

For the greek lettering I just know that it is relatively rare but it can also be found on later coins from Olbia. Thus I would assume it to be a mark of the origin of the coin.

I perceive the letters ,,OY, as a state designation - as a city license plate (like on a car), the designation,,city,,

And yes, it was in the city as pre-coin currency, even though other big cities in the empire were already casting round coins.  Or square.  So they left the dolphin casting in Olbia for now.  It was probably for the love of this unintelligent sea creature.

Thanks for your opinion and have a stress-free day.

Ivan