jahrbuch numismatik geldgeschichte - Bayerische Numismatische ...

Posthumous Alexander Tetradrachms of Odessos 37Group II (Barbaric, Hellenistic and Mithridatic)AHieOEAFA()EM(I)EKAEETI(AI)HPAKAEOYE IEENOAAKQN„barbarian portrait"stylistic linkdie linkstylistic linkdie linkMithridatic portraitCategory I (170-120)Category II (120-100)Category III (100-72)Category IV (88-72)In general, the coinage of Odessos was irregularly minted and, as hoardsindicate, never very abundant. The volume of emissions, especially in theearlier period, was relatively small, even in contrast with the tiny output ofnearby Messembria. In all, I know of only fifty obverse dies for the entireseries (see Table I). The range of circulation for these tetradrachms was notvery wide. The majority of hoards with this issue are confined to the BlackSea region (see Table II). Clearly the tetradrachm series was meant for local,not international trade and reflects the relative economic and political insignificanceof Odessos during the Hellenistic period.