CLASSIFICATION OF THE OLBIAN COINS OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE 4TH CENTURY BC.

Abstract

Since the beginning of the XXI century, the amount of available for the researchers numismatic material has increased significantly, so introducing a new types of coins into the scientific circulation has become an especially relevant in modern numismatics, even when the archaeological context of most of these finds is almost lost. The study of ancient numismatics of Olbia is rapidly gaining in modern Ukraine. At the beginning of the XX century, ancient numismatics already had some significant achievements, but the accumulated material required urgent cataloging and systematization. During last 10 years since the publication of the most important and thorough catalog of ancient coins by Vladlen Opanasovich Anokhin, as well as the results of cataloging Olbia coins by other researchers - Valery Nechitaylo and Grigory Makandarov, numismatics has been enriched by new previously unknown coin types.
 The aim of the study. The main purpose of the article is to introduce into the scientific circulation new varieties of Olbia coins and to compile the most complete classification of Olbia coins of the IV century BC. Research methodology. In the process of scientific elaboration of the topic general scientific methods were used: analytical, chronological, and topographical, as well as source methods: critical, metrological and iconographic. A systematic approach to the processing of modern finds from private collections and access to the collections of foreign museums was the impetus for writing an expanded classification work. The scientific novelty. The value of the processed materials is that they not only complement this group of coins, but also refine previously published types in unsatisfactory condition, where incorrect reading of the names and trinkets has led to inaccuracies.
 The Conclusions. The so-called «obol series» covers the period of the Olbia minting around 350-330 BC. The monetary system consists of four denominations: obol (on the coin field depicts Demeter and the eagle on the dolphin), dikhalk (on the coin field depicts Demeter and the eagle on the dolphin), hulk (on the coin field depicts Demeter and the ear, dolphin) and hemihalk (depicts Demeter and dolphin). The die analysis allowed to divide the coins of Olbia of the IV century BC senior denomination for two stylistic groups. According to the results of our own research, we were able to determine the following number of varieties of each of these denominations: obols – 24 types, dikhalks - 6 types, hulks - 6 types, hemihalks - 2 types.
 We see the prospect of further research in the introduction into scientific circulation of new previously undiscovered varieties of Olbian coins from little-studied sources - materials of museum collections in Ukraine and abroad, among numismatic rarities sold at numismatic auctions and private collections.