Watch List notes:

MACEDON. Terone. Late 5th century BC. Tetrobol (Silver, 14 mm, 2.31 g, 1 h). Satyr, lying back to right, using both hands to tip up a wine amphora so that he can drink the last dregs out of it. Rev. Τ - Ε Goat standing to right on ground line; all within incuse square. BMC 9. De Luÿnes 1548. Hardwick group VI, pl. 29, 17. SNG Copenhagen 342. Traité II 1044 and pl. CCCXVIII, 11. A very artistically arranged scene of a drunken satyr. Rough surfaces, horn silver on the reverse and porous as usual, otherwise, nearly very fine.


This coin bears a fascinating and endearing depiction of a satyr, but we can't be quite sure of what he is doing. Is he preparing to become seriously drunk by looking into an amphora to see how full it is before lifting it up and drinking it down? Or is he sadly looking into an almost empty amphora, unhappy to see how little wine is left? In any case, the engraver responsible for this obverse die has produced a perfect illustration of the wild Dionysiac revels so characteristic of the northern Greek mythological landscape.