Abderite Coins
Ancient coins provide valuable insight into the economic life of a city-state, including its production, commercial activity, and overall prosperity or decline. Beyond their primary function, many coins are also considered small artistic masterpieces. Some of the finest examples of ancient Greek coinage were minted in Abdera.
The first coins of Abdera were minted around 520/515 BC, while the last were issued at the beginning of the 1st century BC. The city’s autonomous coinage includes issues in silver, gold, and bronze. During the Imperial period (1st–2nd century AD), bronze coins continued to be minted.
The griffin, the symbol of Abdera, is depicted on the obverse of the coins. The reverse types vary and are associated with individual mint magistrates, whose names are regularly inscribed.
Silver coins of the 6th and 5th centuries BC have been found in Egypt, Syria, and Mesopotamia. These finds reflect trade networks, as well as the presence of the Persians in Thrace.
