The Mytilene traces in the coinage of the Cimmerian Bosporos
It is already long ago that the researchers noted a remarkable similarity between the early coinage of the Lesbian Mytilene and Bosporan poleis. This is true both as separate figures and compositions are concerned and in relation to the coin subjects in general. In this connection, some researchers took notice of the complete subject identity of Nymphaion coins with the legend ΣΑΜΜА with one of the monetary types from Mytilene (cf. Fig. 1, 13 and 11А, 12А ), as well as of hemiobols of the first “Sindic” series and Mytilene hektai of 454-428 BC of the type “protome of a goat right with the head turned backward / owl with spread wings enface” (see Fig. 1, 9 and 8А ). In the Sindic emission, also some other coincidences can be found, in particular, of the type “head of Herakles - horse head” with the representation of “protome of horse - head of Herakles” on hektai of Mytilene (Pl. I, 10 and 9А ). In addition, the presence of representations of a griffin is notable in both coinages (Fig. 1, 11, 12 and 10А ). The evident conformity to the Mytilene typology of the 5th cen. BC is observed also in the minting of other poleis of the Cimmerian Bosporos, e. g. Theodosia (see Fig. 1, 1-3 and 1А-3А ). Moreover, in the local minting, the subject and iconographic coincidences with Mytilene coinage are not limited to only the first issue (cf. Fig. 1, 4-8 and 4А-7А ). It must be added that certain correspondence is present also in the coinage of Pantikapaion (cf. Fig. 1, 14-16 and 13А-15А ). The connections of the Lesbian Mytilene with Bosporos hardly were limited to only a political and economical sphere. Considering the abundance of identical subjects in their coin typology, it is evidently possible to admit also cultural and religious contacts and this supposition requires a more detailed examination of the problem.