Islands off Thrace, Thasos Extremely Rare AR Tetradrachm 89-87 BC Ancient Greek Silver Coin Young Dionysos on Obverse Museum Reproduction CSGT0048

Thasos is an island off the Thracian coast. The island was important in the wine trade and also controlled rich silver mines on the mainland. Thasos was colonized by Ionians from Paros and was also visited by Phoenician sailors. Tribe Sintians occupied the island previously. The wealth of Thasos was proverbial thanks to gold and silver mines of the island and the nearby Pangaea which provided him 200 to 300 talents of annual resources from Herodian (VI, 46). During the revolt in Thrace in 498 BC against the Persian empire, Darius I (521-486 AC) tried to impose the city. After the Persian Wars, Thasos joined the Athenian alliance and the produce of the mines was first diverted to the Delian League and Athens directly. In 411 BC, Thasos revolted and drove the Athenians, who were replaced immediately by a Spartan garrison. After 357 BC, Thasos fell under Macedonian domination. She found some of its independence after the death of Lysimachus in 281 BC. After the defeat of Cynoscephalae in 197 BC, Thasos again became independent.

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; Q SVR monogram in left field
Legend:
ΗΡΑΚΛΕΟΥΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΘΑΣΙΩΝ

A perfect choice for Numismatists, Historians, Military Veterans, Collectors.