Katalog
| Emitent | Mende |
|---|---|
| Rok | 460 BC - 423 BC |
| Typ | Standard circulation coin |
| Nominał | Tetradrachm (4) |
| Waluta | Drachm |
| Skład | Silver |
| Waga | 17.33 g |
| Średnica | 29 mm |
| Grubość | |
| Kształt | Round (irregular) |
| Technika | Hammered, Incuse |
| Orientacja | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Rytownik(zy) | |
| W obiegu do | |
| Źródło(a) | Noe Mende#– 7#337 |
| Opis awersu | Dionysos, bearded and wearing an ivy wreath and a himation, holding a kantharos in his extended right hand and resting his left hand on the cloth covering the donkey`s back, reclining left on the back of a donkey walking to right; encircling the donkey`s ears, ivy wreath; in the lower right field, crow perched to right within a pair of ivy branches. |
|---|---|
| Pismo awersu | |
| Legenda awersu | |
| Opis rewersu | Linear square containing a vine with leaves, tendrils and five bunches of grapes. |
| Pismo rewersu | Greek |
| Legenda rewersu | MEN ΔA I ON |
| Krawędź | |
| Mennica | |
| Nakład |
ND (460 BC - 423 BC) - - |
| ID Numisquare | 8875708560 |
| Dodatkowe informacje |
Historical Context: This Tetradrachm originates from Mende, a prosperous city in Thrace, the Chalcidice peninsula, during the Classical Greek period (460-423 BC). Mende’s wealth was largely founded on its renowned viticulture and wine trade, making it a significant economic power. As a member of the Delian League, its coinage reflects a period of autonomy and flourishing commerce, predating the Peloponnesian War's full impact. The Dionysian iconography directly underscores its primary industry and cultural identity.
Artistry: The obverse masterfully depicts Dionysus, the god of wine, riding a donkey, a direct allusion to Mende's famed Mendaean wine. This early Classical design, while lacking a known engraver, exhibits a developing naturalism characteristic of the period, moving beyond archaic stiffness to greater dynamism. The reverse features an incuse square enclosing a distinctive Mendaean vine laden with grapes, further reinforcing the city's agricultural prosperity and its strong association with Dionysus.
Technical/Grading: Struck on a broad silver flan of 29mm, weighing 17.33 grams, this coin adheres to the Attic standard. High-points for preservation include Dionysus’s facial features, the donkey’s musculature, and the intricate details of the vine and grapes on the reverse. Well-centered examples display the full design, with early strikes exhibiting sharp relief and minimal die wear. The Noe reference (Noe Mende#– 7#337) indicates a well-documented die pairing within the series.