Nomos AG
Auction 23 30 Nov 2021
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THRACE. "The Thracians". Circa 88 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 32 mm, 16.32 g, 12 h), issued during the Mithridatic wars. Head of youthful Dionysos to right, wearing ivy wreath. Rev. ΗΡΑΚΛΕΟΥΣ / ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ / ΘPAKΩN Herakles standing left, nude but for lion's skin over his shoulder and left arm; resting right hand on club; to left, monogram. AMNG II p. 1, 1 var (different monogram). HGC 3.2, - and HGC 6, -. Youroukova 146. One of the best known examples of this rare and unusual type. Extremely fine.
From the D. A. Collection, USA.
This is a rather unusual coin! By imitating the types and parts of the inscription of the contemporary tetradrachms of Thasos, the unknown Thracian group that minted this piece sought to ensure that it would be quickly accepted in the eastern Balkans and in northern Greece, where Thasian issues were most familiar. This short-lived emission could be an issue of the Koinon of the Thrakians, an organization about which we know little, at least before the early 2nd century AD when we begin to find inscriptions referring to it. It is tempting to think that the koinon was first organized by the Romans as an ally during the Mithridatic wars, and that it continued and expanded during the subsequent imperial period.
From the D. A. Collection, USA.
This is a rather unusual coin! By imitating the types and parts of the inscription of the contemporary tetradrachms of Thasos, the unknown Thracian group that minted this piece sought to ensure that it would be quickly accepted in the eastern Balkans and in northern Greece, where Thasian issues were most familiar. This short-lived emission could be an issue of the Koinon of the Thrakians, an organization about which we know little, at least before the early 2nd century AD when we begin to find inscriptions referring to it. It is tempting to think that the koinon was first organized by the Romans as an ally during the Mithridatic wars, and that it continued and expanded during the subsequent imperial period.