Coins depicting Dionysus (& coins of Thasos too) promote ancient tourism?

The coins of Thasos certainly advertise & promote Thasos as a place to visit. My want list still includes one or more Thasos coins depicting satyr & nymph. The devices depicted on the coins of Thasos are certainly a plug to promote tourism in Thasos are they not?

The Thasos coin I recently purchased depicts Dionysus. Again, this is a plug to promote tourism to Thasos is it not? I mean the guy is the god of the grape harvest, winemaking, ritual madness, and ecstasy in Greek mythology. Apparently, there was Wine, Merry Making, Theater, and Ecstasy available in Thasos right?

I should be receiving this coin next Tuesday so this thread is started with the seller’s photo. My photos depicting how the coin appears in hand (for better or worse) should be added here next Tuesday.


Preliminary coin label
THRACE, Thasos
Tetradrachm (After 146 BC).

16.72 grams, 31 mm
Obv: Wreathed head of Dionysus right.
Rev: Hercules standing left, holding club and lion's skin with control monogram. HPAKΛEOYΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ / ΘAΣIΩN.
Grade: gVF to aEF
Other: SNG Cop 1046ff.

 

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When first introduced to this coin, I thought it was a woman depicted on the coin. The hair is pulled back & braided & includes a few locks cascading below a wreath of vines & berries. In this case, I quickly learned that she is actually a he (Dionysus). Here is a statue of Dionysus at the Louvre:

Do you all have coins depicting Dionysus? Please post ‘em if you got ‘em.

 

"the god of the grape harvest, winemaking, ritual madness, and ecstasy in Greek mythology." A worthy god to depict on any coin in my honest opinion.

Unfortunately I don't own any. Just another one to add to my want list. I intend to branch out into ancient Greek coinage later this year.

And yours is certainly a nice example Collect89! Well done.

 

Collect89: the obverse looks beautiful, but where is the reverse?

 

Thasos, Thrace, Silver Tetradrachm
Obv:– Head of a youthful Dionysos to right, wearing elaborate ivy wreath with leaves and berries
Rev:– HRAKLEOVS SWTEROS, Youthful Herakles, nude but for drapery over his shoulder and let arm, standing facing, his head to left, holding a club in his right hand and resting his left at his waist; QASIWN in exergue. MH monogram
Minted in Thasos, Thrace. After 148 B.C.
Reference:– SNG Cop.1040.

 

Dionysos Rocks!!





sadly, my cool example has been cleaned and pollished and has some surface corrosion (*sigh*)

... oh well, still not bad for being 2000 years old, eh?

 

One of my favorite coin...

 

I want one!!!

 

Wha? Did I hear correct? We are going to Thasos? I'm in!

Just came back from Kyrene, guess what I got?!!?!?!!

Thracian Tetradrachm of Thasos
AR Tetradrachm 31.6 x 31.8mm (16.13g)
c. BC 148
Obverse: Portrait of Dionysos
Reverse: Hercules with Lion Pelt in arm resting on club. M monogram left M monogram right.

This Party is hopping! We got Dionysos, Hercules, and MM's.

 

I think this an interesting depiction of Dionysos. Different and kind of mysterious.



Thrace, Kallatis

 

The party is still going and

The Satyr just showed up with more wine!

Thrace, Thasos
AR Obol (0.80g) c. 450-425 BC
Obverse: Naked Satyr kneeling left presenting Kantharos
Reverse: Amphora- THASIWN

 

Thasos! ... did somebody mention Thasos?

Hey Noob => awesome idea to bring some booze to the party ... but I'm suggesting that we also invite a few nymphs to this good ol' sausage-fest!!

Thasos, AR Stater
525-463 BC

 

i don't have a dionysos....

 

Here is one I've shown often:

AMISOS, PONTOS AE 20
OBVERSE: Head of youthful Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy
REVERSE: Thyrsos leaning against cista mystica draped with panther skin; AMISOU below
Struck at Amisos 85-65 BC
8.8g, 21mm
SNG BM Black Sea 1199-1200; HGC 7, 243

 

The coin arrived today (one day early).

I like the coin in hand. IMO it has some attractive cabinet toning.

 

Very nice C89. Very nice.

 

I've got a similar coin but know nothing about it. I've tried looking it up and see that a few imitations were made around that time? How can you tell whether it is an imitation or a real coin? Also, the monogram looks like an M - any ideas what that means?

Do these coins hold any value?

Thanks for any help.

 

Looks like a cast fake.

 

Is it because the last Sigma of ΗΡΑΚΛΕΟΥΣ seems to be partially missing? How can you tell?

It does look more bronze than silver. I don't have accurate scales but it weighed in at 14g and is 30mm in diameter.

 

I won't tell you it's a fake. However, I will tell you that the coin's features are not distinct and features not sharp. These are indicators that perhaps Mat was referring. There are posters here on CT that are very good at spotting fakes, and perhaps they will chime in soon enough. Mat may very well be correct. If you are located anywhere near an Ancient's dealer, you should take it in to be appraised.