Archaeological site

Archaeological site

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ABD.03.01.01

40.940880

24.968125

Gradually, the colonists consolidate their presence, and achieved with rapid growth to create a powerful city-state, with a strong currency which was also a member of the Athenian Alliance. Coins of Abdera we found from ancient Istro, at the estuary of Danube, up to Egypt and Syria, but also from the southern Asia Minor and Mesopotamia, all the way to the west and the Cyrenaica peninsula, indicating that Abdera was a big entity in trading which also had a considerable fleet, something that is confirmed today by identifying the five ports of the city.
The exploitation of farming in the inland, with the rich Thracian plain, in combination with trade, resulted to a great economic growth and prosperity in the city. The coins of Abdera, with the great thematic range, were widely spread to the then ancient world. The first minting of coins took place at approximately 520 – 515 BC. During all the historical periods of the city, the representations of the front side of the coins were always related to one mythical being, the Griffin, which also symbolizes the light. Griffin is also related with the god Apollo, but also with wisdom, strength and vigilance. During several chronological periods, on the back side of the coins there were representations of Apollo, Hercules, and Hermes, all as protectors of the city and their figures were complemented with cobs, beetles, dolphins, bulls and often with a square stamp.

Gradually, the colonists,, consolidate their presence, and achieved with rapid growth, to create a powerful city-state with a strong currency, which was also a member of the Athenian Alliance. Coins of Abdera,, we found from ancient Istro, at the estuary of Danube, up to Egypt and Syria, but also from the southern Asia Minor and Mesopotamia, all the way to the west, and the Cyrenaica peninsula, indicating that Abdera, was a big entity in trading, which also had a considerable fleet, something that is confirmed today, by identifying the five ports of the city.
The exploitation of farming in the inland,, with the rich Thracian plain in combination with trade,, resulted to a great economic growth and prosperity in the city. The coins of Abdera, with the great thematic range, were widely spread to the then ancient world. The first minting of coins,, took place at approximately 520 – 515 BC. During all the historical periods of the city, the representations of the front side of the coins, were always related to one mythical being, the Griffin, which also symbolizes the light. Griffin is also related with the god Apollo, but also with wisdom, strength, and vigilance. During several chronological periods, on the back side of the coins, there were representations of Apollo, Hercules, and Hermes, all as protectors of the city, and their figures were complemented with cobs, beetles, dolphins, bulls, and often with a square stamp.

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