Another Methymna, Or Aioleion The Phantom City?

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Novicius Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 1168 Posts	Posted 02/21/2022 11:02 am Recently I've been picking up some coins that have not been easy to attribute, and this type appears to have caused some disagreement amongst the academics. The coin was listed as "Methymna (?) - Lesbos. 330-280 BC". I did find a few similar coins online listed as Methymna, with what is thought to be Hera on the obverse and the thunderbolt with grapes below on the reverse, but what is confusing is the legend "AIOΛE" above the thunderbolt. These coins with almost identical designs were all in the 14mm to 17mm diameter range, whereas this one is only 9mm in diameter. One of the coins on the Wildwinds "Browsing Ancient Coinage of Lesbos" page, has "Lesbos, struck in Aeolis for circulation in Lesbos. 330-280 BC. AE15," in the description. A search brought up the publication, PHILIA, International Journal of Ancient Mediterranean Studies - "A Phantom City in the Troad: Aioleion and its Coinage". It has been a great help in trying to attribute the coin, and some of the pertinent information is reproduced below. Image 1 - The abstract. Image 2 - There is no city named Aioleion. Image 3 - Coins found between 1981 and 2015, where a 9mm coin is mentioned. Methymna (?) - Lesbos. 330-280 BC. Obverse: Female head (Hera ?) right, wearing stephane, earring, and necklace. Reverse: Thunderbolt; grapes below. Reverse Inscription: AIOΛE. Metal: Bronze. Weight: 0.6 gr. Diameter: 9 mm. Reference: BMC p.171, 6 Report this Post to the Staff

Palouche Pillar of the Community Spain 2752 Posts	Posted 02/21/2022 6:01 pm Another interesting coin Jim! Hera? Could well be with her relationship with Zeus and his thunderbolt....A nicely detailed coin! You've certainly done some research which I've found most informative..Thank you! A right little enigma?... Report this Post to the Staff
Kamnaskires Pillar of the Community United States 7066 Posts	Posted 02/21/2022 6:31 pm Nice one, Jim. On a related note, I've met a lot of people through the years who I suspect were probably from Assos. Report this Post to the Staff
Novicius Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 1168 Posts	Posted 02/21/2022 7:15 pm Quote: Hera? Could well be with her relationship with Zeus and his thunderbolt. Thanks, Paul, I would imagine that this is indeed the case. Quote: A right little enigma?... It sure is. I'll be adding another oddment to the apiary in the animals thread shortly, and it isn't from Ephesos. Quote: On a related note, I've met a lot of people through the years who I suspect were probably from Assos. Snap on that one, Bob. I usually mentally associated those people with spray cans (aerosols). Report this Post to the Staff
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