Nomos 7

THRACE, Maroneia. Circa mid 2nd century BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 16.58 g 12), signed by the engraver M... on the obverse. Head of youthful Dionysos to right, wearing taenia and ivy wreath, and with his hair partially knotted at the back and partially falling down the back of his neck; on the taenia between the two lower ivy leaves, Μ. Rev. ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΜΑΡΩΝΙΤΩΝ Nude Dionysos standing to left with cloak over his left arm, holding bunch of grapes in his right and narthex stalks in his left; to left, monogram. Schönert-Geiss 1000/1 (V9/R23, this coin). SNG Delepierre 802 (same dies). A very attractive toned example of excellent style. Extremely fine.

From the Spina Collection, ex Triton IV, 5 December 2000, 191 and Bank Leu 25, 23 April 1980, 89.

First noticed in 2000, the tiny letter Μ on the headband on the obverse must stand for the engraver who cut this obverse die. He had to have been particularly proud of his work: it is, in fact, of infinitely finer style than the usual late tetradrachms of Maroneia and is equal to the best of the marginally earlier stephanophori struck by the Hellenistic cities around the Aegean.