Tetradrachm Thasos Type
| Issuer | Uncertain Eastern European Celts |
|---|---|
| Year | 200 BC - 1 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Value | Tetradrachm (4) |
| Currency | Drachm |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 16.60 g |
| Diameter | 30 mm |
| Thickness | |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Engraver(s) | |
| In circulation to | |
| Reference(s) | Kostial#972, Göbl Kelt#Pl. 46 class III |
| Obverse description | Celticised head of Dionysos to right, wearing ivy wreath. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | |
| Obverse lettering | |
| Reverse description | Stylised Herakles standing to left, holding club reduced to pellets and lion`s skin; IΩVΛEO to right, ΩZHDOΛ to left and Λ•ΣIΩM below, M in inner left field. |
| Reverse script | Greek |
| Reverse lettering | IΩVΛEO ΩZHDOΛ Λ•ΣIΩM |
| Edge | |
| Mint | |
| Mintage |
ND (200 BC - 1 BC) - - |
| Numisquare ID | 1003028340 |
| Additional information |
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Historical Context: This silver tetradrachm, issued by uncertain Eastern European Celtic tribes (200 BC - 1 BC), exemplifies the widespread imitation of the Thasian prototype. Its issuance reflects economic and cultural interaction between Celtic groups, particularly in Pannonia and Dacia, and the Hellenistic world. Lacking large-denomination monetary systems, Celts adopted and reproduced Thasian coinage for trade and prestige. This period marks a transition from early, faithful copies to increasingly abstract "barbarized" renditions, coinciding with Celtic expansion and Roman confrontation.
Artistry: The coin’s artistry is defined by its imitative nature, deriving from the Thasian prototype: obverse Dionysus head, reverse Herakles standing (or eagle). As a "Thasos Type" imitation, specifically Göbl Kelt#Pl. 46 class III, this piece exhibits a distinct stage of stylistic degeneration. Original details are simplified, exaggerated, or geometrically abstracted, characteristic of Celtic "barbarization." No specific engravers are known; the style represents a regional, evolving interpretation rather than an individual's signature.
Technical/Grading: For grading this Kostial#972 type, key high-points: preservation of the stylized obverse Dionysus portrait, focusing on clarity of abstracted facial features, hair, and wreath. Reverse: definition of Herakles’s form and attributes (club, lion skin), or eagle's details, despite reduced fidelity, is critical. Given common irregular flans and off-center strikes, a well-centered strike with good metal flow and minimal planchet flaws enhances grade. Weight (16.60 gg) and diameter (30 mmmm) are standard for the type.