Actually, I purchased this coin in the middle of last month, just before the deaths in the family and before the holidays, but it just arrived yesterday. It is a style I have been wanting for a long time, but never found one within my budget or one I could be 100% certain of it's authenticity. THRACE, ISTROS AR Drachm OBVERSE: Facing male heads, the left inverted (Polydeuces Castor and Pollucs (AKA Dioskuri) REVERSE: Sea-eagle left, grasping dolphin with talons; ISTRIH above, Q between wing and tail, K beneath dolphin Struck at Istros, 400-300BC 5.3g, 19mm AMNG 434 From the seller: Histria or Istros (Ancient Greek: Ἰστρίη, Thracian river god, Danube), was a Greek colony or polis (πόλις, city) near the mouths of the Danube (known as Ister in Ancient Greek), on the western coast of the Black Sea. Established by Milesian settlers in order to facilitate trade with the native Getae, it is considered the oldest urban settlement on Romanian territory. Scymnus of Chios (ca 110 BC), dated its founding to 630 BC, while Eusebius of Caesarea set it during the time of the 33rd Olympic Games (657 – 656 BC). The earliest documented currency on Romanian territory was an 8-gram silver drachma, issued by the city around 480 BC.
I love it. The circulation wear does not eliminate the significant details, it's centered, and no problems. Bravo!
Wonderful example Bing!! I just LOVE it!!!! I've lost track of how many examples of the type I have lost on bid
Thanks all. I've been searching for a long time. This one poked it's head(s) up and I took a shot. It feels good in hand as well. 5.3g is hefty for a 19mm coin.
Oh my!! => that's fricken sweeet ... => big-bro, that coin is awesome!! (it looks quite a bit like my example) Mom always did like me better, eh? I love ya, brother
Wow! That's a great coin to start the year off with. Nearly a month to get to you but the wait was worth it.
To be truthful, with my personal life in turmoil, I'd forgotten about it until it arrived yesterday. Thanks again for all the kind remarks. Little bro: I think you're right. Mom always did like you better. It was your awesome coin that made me want one.
Nice one bing. I myself have been looking at older Greeks ever since getting a nice little Greek bronze recently.
at times two heads are better than one, interesting coin! On the reverse, you could say that is not how the Philadelphia vs Miami game at the end of the season ended.
great start to 2016 bing! somehow i missed this thread earlier, glad i came back to look. dioscuri and double animal....SCOOOOORE!
