Nomos 3

THRACO-MACEDONIAN REGION, Siris. Circa 525-480 BC. Stater (Silver, 10.00 g). Ithyphallic satyr, nude and with feet in the form of horse’s hooves, standing right, raising his left hand and, with his right, grasping the left hand of a nymph moving to right, her head turned back to left and her right hand raised; around, three pellets Rev. Incuse square diagonally divided. AMNG III/2, 18 (’Lete’). HPM pl. VII, 27 (same obverse die). SNG ANS 956-961 (’Lete’). Rare. A powerful and well-made example, with clear figures of the two protagonists. Struck in good silver and very well preserved. Extremely fine.

From the OBS collection, London..

The Northern Greek cities were very close to the natural world and delighted in wine and the deities and creatures that were associated with it. Here we have a satyr inviting a nymph to take pleasure with him - but she is remonstrating with him over his presumption. Not really fighting though. The fine style of this coin indicates that it was struck earlier, at a time when there was less urgency in minting. The following piece comes from the slightly later, mass issues, produced to maximize the profits from the silver mines.