Numismatic Evidence for Ancient Seafaring between the Levant, Western and Southern Asia Minor and the Northern Black Sea

Abstract

Greek period coins of western and southern Asia Minor and the adjacent islands, Cyprus and the Levant are exceptional in the numismatic profile of the northern Black Sea region (excluding Leucos Island). Similarly, coin issues of western and southern Anatolia are rarely found in Israel (except from Side). Despite the exceptional nature of such foreign coins in both regions, they provide evidence for ancient seafaring, as do related archaeological evidence and literary sources. The article examines the numismatic evidence for maritime trade between the northern Black Sea, the Aegean, the Anatolian coast and the Levant.