CYCLADES, Kythnos. Circa 475-460 BC. Tetrobol or Third Stater (Silver, 16 mm, 3.93 g). Head of a boar to right. Rev. Rough quadripartite incuse square. Kyrou & Artemis pl. 51, 1-29. McClean 8859 and pl. 314, 2. Sheedy series III, pl. 4, 30-1 var. (unlisted dies). Very rare and lightly toned. Struck from a slightly worn obverse die and with light porosity, otherwise, very fine.



Kythnos is one of the smaller Cycladic islands, guarding the entrance to the Saronic Gulf. It is unique in that it was originally populated by the pre-Greek Dryopians. The early coinage of Kythnos consists of drachms and tetrobols weighing 4 g, along with some fractional pieces, all of which feature a boar's head facing right on the obverse. Although these coins have been known since the 19th century, their origin was only uncovered through a hoard discovered on Kythnos in 1976, as well as subsequent finds on the island.