THRACE. Abdera. Circa 395-360 BC. Tetrobol (Silver, 15 mm, 3.00 g, 3 h), Molpagores, magistrate. Griffin seated to left, with open wings and both forelegs raised.
Rev. ΜOΛ-ΠΑ-ΓΟΡ-ΕΩ Head of Dionysos to right, wearing wreath of ivy and fruit, within linear square; all within shallow incuse. May, Abdera, 417 (A289/P339) = Jameson 2007 (
this coin). Apparently unique. A wonderful piece, beautifully toned and with an impressive pedigree. Nearly extremely fine.
Ex Künker 136, 10 March 2008, 506, Münzen und Medaillen FPL 594, March 1996, 9, The Numismatic Auction 2, 12 December 1983, 66, and Numismatic Fine Arts FPL VI, April 1978, 1473, from the Jameson Collection (1861-1942) and ex Egger XXXIX, 15 January 1912, 138.
What makes this coin unique is the fact that the name of the magistrate is given in the genitive instead of in the nominative used on all other coins of Molpagores. It is worth noting that the genitive on ΕΩ is Ionian, hinting at the Ionian origin of the Abderitan settlers, whose mother city, Teos, was in Ionia.
