Catalog
| Issuer | Mende |
|---|---|
| Year | 460 BC - 423 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Value | Tetradrachm (4) |
| Currency | Drachm |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 16.28 g |
| Diameter | 24.5 mm |
| Thickness | |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered, Incuse |
| Orientation | |
| Engraver(s) | |
| In circulation to | |
| Reference(s) | Gulbenkian#414 |
| Obverse description | Dionysos, bearded and wearing a decorated himation, holding kantharos in his right hand and letting his left dangle, reclining left on the back of a donkey walking to right; in the exergue, grain of barley |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | |
| Obverse lettering | |
| Reverse description | MEN-ΔA-I-ON around a linear square containing a disc bearing a sixteen-rayed star and with a grape cluster flanked by leaves in each of the four corners; all within shallow incuse square |
| Reverse script | Greek |
| Reverse lettering | MEN ΔA I ON |
| Edge | |
| Mint | |
| Mintage |
ND (460 BC - 423 BC) - - |
| Numisquare ID | 8456184980 |
| Additional information |
Historical Context: This Tetradrachm, issued by the prosperous Chalcidian city of Mende between 460 and 423 BC, belongs to the early to high Classical period. Renowned for its timber and fine wine, Mende was a significant Delian League member, leveraging its strategic position and economic resources. This period marks a zenith of its influence, with these large-denomination coins facilitating extensive Aegean trade, underscoring Mende's economic power and role in the Hellenic world prior to the Peloponnesian War.
Artistry: The coin's design exemplifies the developing naturalism of the Early Classical Greek style, reflecting skilled local masters. The obverse features the city's patron deity, Dionysus, often reclining on an ass, rendered with remarkable fluidity and detail, capturing his relaxed nature. The reverse presents the city's ethnic inscription MENΔAIΩN within a linear square, typically accompanied by a crow. This composition showcases the era's artistic progression towards greater realism and dynamic movement.
Technical/Grading: Struck on a substantial silver flan weighing 16.28 grams and measuring 24.5 millimeters, this coin adheres to the Attic weight standard. Key high-points for preservation include Dionysus's facial features, hair, and the musculature of the ass, plus intricate drapery details. A well-struck example exhibits full detail on both obverse and reverse, with strong relief and minimal die wear. Excellent specimens show a well-centered strike, preserving the entirety of the complex obverse design and reverse ethnic.