Pantikapaion was founded by Greek colonists from Miletos in the late 7th century BC. Situated on the west side of the Cimmerian Bosporos, in what is now the Crimea, it achieved great prosperity through its exploitation of the abundant fisheries of the Straits and the export of wheat from the Crimea. This wealth is attested by its splendid gold coinage which commenced in the mid-4th century BC and by the magnificently furnished rock tombs of its principal citizens in the same period. Later, it was to become a regional capital of the kingdom of Mithradates VI of Pontos (120-63 BC) and later still the seat of the kings of Bosporos (1st century BC — 4th century AD).
The coinage of Pantikapaion seems to have commenced with silver issues in the latter part of the 5th century BC. The choice of design elements for this city's coinage, and the skill of the responsible celators resulted in one of the most attractive and popular of all ancient coin types. The most common motif throughout is the depiction of the head of the god Pan (a pun on the name of the city). It is a striking feature, especially when engraved in a three-quarter facing style, and displays a skill in engraving of the highest merit. The following collection contains a wide variety of metals and denominations, and is reprentative of all periods of coinage from Pantikapaion.
TAURIC CHERSONESOS. Pantikapaion. Circa 325-300 BC. AR Drachm (3.44 gm). Bearded head of Pan, facing slightly left / Bull's head left. SNG BM Black Sea 880; SNG Stancomb 548; Anokhin 121; SNG Copenhagen 21.
