Myrina, Aeolis, 155-145 BC, "Stephanophoric" Tetradrachm

Myrina, Aeolis. Tetradrachm, AR, c. 155–145 BC. 12.71 g; 28 mm. Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo right. Reverse: ΜΥΡΙΝΑΙΩΝ; Apollo Gryneios standing left, holding phiale and laurel branch; monogram in left field; all within a laurel wreath (“stephanophoric” type). Struck on the reduced stephanophoric standard used for the regional wreathed tetradrachms of western Asia Minor. Sacks, issue 42.

This issue belongs to the mid-2nd century BC “wreathed” civic silver coinage of Ionia and Aeolis, produced under the Attalid Kingdom and circulating broadly in western Asia Minor. The Apollo type and ethnic identify Myrina and reference the nearby sanctuary of Apollo Gryneios, an important local cult center. The reduced standard (c. 12.7 g) aligns the series with contemporary regional monetary practices prior to the transfer of the Pergamene realm to Rome in 133 BC.