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Numismatic Auction 26  10 February 2015
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Lot 2

Estimate: 500 USD
Price realized: 320 USD
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Carpathian region, Imitating Thasos. ca. 148-90/80 B.C. AR tetradrachm (31.4 mm, 16.62 g, 11 h). Wreathed head of young Dionysos right / HPAKΛEOYΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ ΘAΣIΩN, Herakles standing left, holding club and lion's skin; monogram to left. Lanz 954; Prokopov Group XIV. VF.

This is a very early imitiation: legible and of good style, but still distinctly 'odd' in appearance. The tied up hair at the side of Dionysos' head has become almost horn-like, and his neck has become elongated. Thasian imitations were produced in enormous numbers to profit from the abundant silver from the lower Balkans, but coins of this quality are relatively scarce.

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