CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY
- Denomination:
- AR Eighth Stater – Diobol
- Composition:
- Silver
- Date:
- circa 500-480 BC
- Obverse:
- Archaic Satyr running right
- Reverse:
- Quadripartite incuse square
- Reference:
- Le Rider Thasiennes 4; SNG Copenhagen 191-194 (Lete in Macedon); SNG Ashmolean 3653; Rosen 144; Svoronos HPM, pl. 10, 18-20; HGC 6, 333; SGCV I -
- Size:
- 10.97mm, 0.87g
- Province:
- Islands off Thrace, Thasos
- Grade:
- VF, toned, cleaning scratches on obverse, deposit and light scuff on reverse
- Provenance:
- ex Classical Numismatic Group eAuction 407 (11 October 2017), Lot 42; ex Cederlind 156 (30 September 2010), Lot 35
- Information:
- From the archaic period, during which the earliest greek coins were struck
Thasos (Θάσος) is the northern most island of Greece. First colonised by the Phoenicians, likely due to its gold mines, it was also well known in antiquity for its nuts, wine and marble. The Roman senator, Gaius Cassius Longinus, brother in law to Brutus and co-conspirator in the plot to assasinate Julius Caesar was buried on the island. The ancient coins of Thasos are famous for their depiction of the insatiable Satyr carrying off a protesting or struggling nymph. Lovers of wine and women, Satyrs are companions of Dionysus, the Greek god of pleasure.
I, Peter A. Piliouras of Ancient Coin Traders irrevocably guarantee for life to the Purchaser that this ancient coin is authentic. If this coin is deemed not to be authentic by a professional certification service, then I will refund to the Purchaser the full cost of acquiring the coin (including shipping) together with the certification fees.
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Signed: Peter Anthony Piliouras
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Date