Coins
of the Skythian kings are relatively rare. Skyles was a king who lived
circa 500 BC, and was mentioned by Herodotos (4.78–80). The son of
Skythian King Ariapeithes and a Greek woman, he was of mixed blood, and
took more to Hellenic culture. This tendency toward Greek culture set
him apart from his subjects, and this trait was used against him by his
brother Octamasadas, who led a successful rebellion against Skyles. The
coins attributed to Skyles are all cast bronze, featuring an owl on the
obverse and either a four-spoke wheel or the letters ΣK on the reverse.
The types with the wheel reverse have the letters ΣKYΛ on the obverse.
All of these coin types have been found in Nikonion, which must have
been the location of their mint. The attribution of these coins to the
Skythian king is still debatable. [CNG]
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Scythia