Islands off Thrace, Thasos AR Tetradrachm 80-70 BC Ancient Greek Silver Coin Dionysos on Obverse Museum Reproduction CSGT0083

Previously, this issue struck in the name of the Thracians was speculated to have been an issue struck at an uncertain mint in Thrace by Mithradates VI. However, Ilya Prokopov’s die study of the Thasos tetradrachms established obverse die links between these coins in the name of the Thracians (ΘΡΑΚΩΝ) and those in the name of the Thasians (ΘΑΣIΩΝ), allowing for the former issues to be placed within the regular coinage. Prokopov agrees that the coins are likely struck during the Mithradatic period, but while Thrace was under the authority of the Romans, who allowed the administrator of the Temple of Dionysos to strike and circulate this coinage. MacDonald’s further study confirmed Prokopov’s placement of these within the ΘΑΣIΩΝ series, and identified an overstrike that established their absolute chronology. He theorized that these issues were used by the Romans to pay their Thracian mercenaries or allies.

DESIGN:
Obverse side
Head of young Dionysos right, wreathed in ivy and with band across forehead
Legend:
Anepigraphic

Reverse side
Herakles, naked standing left, holding club, lions skin over left arm; monogram in field to left
Legend:
ΗΡΑΚΛΕΟΥΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΘΡΑΚΩΝ

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