Northern Greece, Thrace, Ainos (c. 460 BC), Silver Tetradrachm, 16.43 gms., die axis 45°, head of Hermes right, wearing petasos, rev. /KAIN[I]/k above goat right, ivy-leaf within crescent in front, all within incuse square (May 48C, this coin listed, pl. II, no. 48 (A 29/P 39); Boston 774; ACGC 553), choice very fine, fine early classical style and rare

Details

Northern Greece, Thrace, Ainos (c. 460 BC), Silver Tetradrachm, 16.43 gms., die axis 45°, head of Hermes right, wearing petasos, rev. /KAIN[I]/k above goat right, ivy-leaf within crescent in front, all within incuse square (May 48C, this coin listed, pl. II, no. 48 (A 29/P 39); Boston 774; ACGC 553), choice very fine, fine early classical style and rare

Provenance

Purchased from Dr. Jacob Hirsch in 1941 for $202.50
Viconte de Sartiges Collection, Naville/Ars Classica XVIII, 1938, lot 165
Rhousopulos Collection, Hirsch Sale XIII, 1905, lot 531

Further details

Ainos, the most important trading center in Eastern Thrace, did not begin coining until about 475 BC because of lingering Persian influence in the area. Consequently when the first dies were cut the engravers were unhindered by traditional orientalizing animal types like those that restricted artistic expression at other mints in the Northern Aegean. The resulting series, with the head of the local patron god Hermes, is one of the finest produced by the Greeks in the early and mid-classical periods.