Stater from Thasos (Thrace)

This silver stater comes from the Thracian island of Thasos in the northern Aegean. The obverse depicts the abduction of a nymph by a satyr. The two Greek mythological creatures are shown in an animated scene in which the goat-legged lecherous old man, one of the followers of Dionysus, carries away a struggling young nymph, a type of nature spirit, on his knees. The choice of motif is explained by the connection of Thrace, and especially the island of Thasos, to viticulture and the wine god Dionysus, with the Thracian forests being considered the home of his mythical companions. As amphora finds show, wine from Thasos was very popular, not least in Athens, which demanded high tribute from the island state from 460 BC following a military conflict. This explains the adjustment of the coin weight to the Attic coin standard of 8.6 grams.

Obverse: Satyr running right carrying a nymph. Reverse: Incuse square.