THE MYSTERY OF COLCHIS NUMISMATICS

Abstract

The greatest amount of controversy in Georgian numismatics is caused by several silver, billon and copper coins, on the avers of which the face of a man in the original crown is depicted. This crown is shaped like the sun's rays. The revers bear the Greek inscription ΣAYΛ or ΣAYМ. This is the name of the king painted on the coin. But the name is written in abbreviated form and the fourth letter of this name did not fit completely on the coin. It can be either the letter “Λ” or “M”. Therefore, some numismatists believe that this name is “SAVLAK”, others think that it says “SAVMAK”. Ancient writers write about the kings who had such names. Savlak was the ancient king of Colchis, he was very rich and strong. Savmak lived in the Bosporus kingdom in the 2nd century BC. He carried out a coup d'état, killed the king and became king himself. But then he was defeated by the army of the Pontic king Mithridates. Therefore, to correctly read the name on the coin is of great importance for Georgian numismatics: if the name is “Savlak”, then this coin is Colchian. But if this name is “Savmak”, then it is Bosporan. For over 100 years, scientists have been arguing about this. In 2007, in the Crimea, near the city of Feodosia, another such coin was found. This time the king's name was written in full and could be read well. That was the name Savlak. The name of the king of Colchis. Thus the old numismatic controversy was ended.