A superb drachm from the prosperous Black Sea port of Sinope, struck during the city’s height as a major maritime and trading hub. The obverse bears a high-relief, expressive portrait of the city’s eponymous nymph, whose mythic origins as a daughter of the river god Asopus linked Sinope to divine protection and prestige. Her hair is drawn back in a sphendone, a Classical Greek hairstyle associated with dignity and refinement.

The reverse depicts the sea eagle and dolphin, the enduring civic badge of Sinope. The dolphin directly references the Euxine (Black Sea), lifeline of the city’s wealth, while the eagle-often tied to Zeus-symbolizes power and vigilance. Between the wings and tail appears MIKA, likely the name of a magistrate responsible for the issue, a common feature in Greek civic coinage that reinforced the visibility of prominent local figures.

The coin’s imagery serves both symbolic and practical functions. The nymph Sinope reflects the city’s mythological heritage, while the sea eagle and dolphin proclaim its maritime dominance and commercial vitality. In the 4th century BC, Sinope was a vital grain exporter and naval power in the Black Sea, serving as a link between Anatolia and the northern Pontic colonies. Its silver drachms, widely circulated, carried this identity abroad.

The eagle-dolphin motif is not mere decoration-it is a statement of territorial control over the sea lanes and the city’s role as a gatekeeper of regional trade. The inclusion of the magistrate’s name personalizes the issue and anchors it in the civic structure of Sinope’s government. Together, these elements present a coinage type that is both a work of art and a historical document of the city’s golden age.