THRACE, Byzantion. AE16 Autonomous Bronze, c. 3rd–2nd century BC (2.3 g, 16 mm).

THRACE, Byzantion. AE16 Autonomous Bronze, c. 3rd–2nd century BC (2.3 g, 16 mm).

Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right, hair flowing behind. Rev: Bull standing right, legend ΒΥΖΑΝΤΙΩΝ around. Dark brown patina with sandy earthen highlights, good VF for issue, slightly off-center as usual. A scarce small denomination from the city on the Bosporus that would become Constantinople – Apollo recalls the Delphic oracle consulted at its founding, while the bull echoes the civic types with bull/trident (cf. Schönert-Geiss 914–916) and the regional Apollo/bull pairing seen at Gambrion (2.65 g, 16.2 mm). Ex Classic Coins Inc inventory.