Contributions on the phenomenon of monetary signs through the prism of the latest archaeological and numismatic findings in the Istro-Pontic area (6th century – first half of the 5th century BC)

The latest archaeological and numismatic findings concerning the phenomenon of Western Pontic monetary signs in the continental Dobruja territory are briefly presented. The new information comes from the Histria and Tomis colonies, Histria’s chora, Callatis’ chora, and from the local autochthonous environments located outside the Greek chora. From Histria, among others, proof made of lead that has the shape of a West Pontic monetary sign and that eloquently indicates the casting of these items locally stands out. In Tomis, an inventory of a cremation burial that comprises five monetary signs and an autonomousHistrian coin of the “wheel” type that suggests their use as Charon’s obol are noticeable. In the Histrian chora, the most recent findings come from the Enisala and Orgamé areas. The finding of a hoard consisting of monetary signs in Albești indicates the presence of a Milesian exchange point prior to the founding of the Dorian colony of Callatis. In the local environment, outside the chorae of Histria and Tomis, new findings of monetary signs are identified in seven archaeological points, mainly in the south-west of Dobruja. Also noteworthy is a partially-preserved hoard found in the southern part of Dobruja, near the village of Dumbrăveni, probably from a local open-air settlement, from which only several monetary signs have survived.