THRACE. Maroneia. Circa 189/8-49/5 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 30 mm, 16.75 g, 1 h). Head of youthful Dionysos to right, wearing taenia and wreath of ivy and fruit. Rev. [ΔI]ONYΣOY - ΣΩTHPOΣ / MAPΩNITΩN Dionysos standing front, head to left, holding grapes in his right hand and narthex stalks in his left; chlamys draped over his left arm; to inner right and left, monograms. HGC 3.2, 1556. Pozzi 2235 = Schönert-Geiss 1031.3 (this coin). SNG Berry 496 (same dies). Very rare. Beautifully toned and of exceptionally fine, early style. Minor roughness and light scratches on the obverse, otherwise, extremely fine.


The superb artistry displayed on this wonderful coin betrays that it stands at the very beginning of the long-running Maroneian tetradrachm series, which eventually dissolved into poorly crafted and hastily produced mass production in the later 2nd and 1st centuries BC.