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Orbis Collectibles

Thasos, tetradrachm — Nude Heracles standing facing (CN type 12884)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

148–90/80 BC

Issuing entity

Thrace

Tetradrachm in silver struck at Thasos in Thrace, dated 148–90/80 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 12884 (period: Hellenistic Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Head of (youthful) Dionysus, right, wearing taenia and ivy wreath with five leaves and two fruits. Hair dress rolled in the back and with two curls falling on his back. Reverse: Nude Heracles standing facing, head left, resting right hand on club, left hand on hip, holding lion skin in left arm. Legend: ΗΡΑΚΛΕΟΥΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΘΑΣΙΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 16.54 g (mean of 170 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 28–39 mm (from 73 recorded specimens). The corpus assigns the type to the Attic weight standard. Recorded findspots: Gradeshnitsa, Burgas Region.

Published references cited by the corpus: Prokopov, Die Silberprägung der Insel Thasos und die Tetradrachmen des "thasischen Typs" vom 2.-1. Jh. v. Chr., Berlin 2006, p. 111-209.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
3
Photograph views
4
Catalogue references
1

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Physical characteristics

Material
silver
Denomination
tetradrachm
Recorded diameter
28–39 mm (from 73 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
16.54 g (mean of 170 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Thasos
Region
Thrace
Authority type
City
Weight standard
Attic

Design

Obverse type
Head of (youthful) Dionysus, right, wearing taenia and ivy wreath with five leaves and two fruits. Hair dress rolled in the back and with two curls falling on his back.
Reverse type
Nude Heracles standing facing, head left, resting right hand on club, left hand on hip, holding lion skin in left arm.
Reverse legend
ΗΡΑΚΛΕΟΥΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΘΑΣΙΩΝ

Identification

Period
Hellenistic Period
How to identify
Check the mint name or ethnic, the reverse type and the legend together, then compare weight and module; types from the same mint often differ only in legend arrangement, magistrate names or control marks. 3 closely related CN types with the same mint, denomination and design are consolidated into this entry and listed under varieties.
Recorded findspots
Gradeshnitsa, Burgas Region
Type corpus record
https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/12884
Type corpus identifier
CN type 12884

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Recorded
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Recorded
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Varieties

  • CN type 20912

    Same mint, denomination and design (reverse legend ΗΡΑΚΛΕΟΥΣ - ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ // ΘΑΣΙΩΝ); dated c. 148–80 BC. Consolidated into this entry

  • CN type 21694

    Same mint, denomination and design; dated 1st century BC. Consolidated into this entry

  • CN type 21695

    Same mint, denomination and design; dated 1st century BC. Consolidated into this entry

Research required

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