Object Description
Maroneia, Ca. 188-45 BC
Thrace, Maroneia Ar. tetradrachm. Head of young Dionysus right, in mitre & wreathed with ivy. Rev. ΔIONYΣOY ΣΩTHΡOΣ MAΡΩNITΩN; young Dionysus standing left, holding grapes in right hand & narthex stalks in left, ΠEO monogram in inner left field, TPK monogram in outer right field. Sear SG 1253.
The Thracian city state of Maroneia began to coin in ca. 510 BC, taking advantage of the considerable availability of materials in the mines of the region. Maroneia’s location on the coast of Thrace meant that control of the city was hotly contested by the Hellenistic kings. The polis was captured by Phillip V in 200 and 187/6 BC (Livy 31.16.4) before he was commanded to withdraw by the Romans.
This coin was minted after the city regained a level of autonomy following the Roman proclamation. It features a wreathed portrait of Dionysus on the obverse, the final development of a trend in Maroneian coinage that had been ongoing since ca. 350 BC.
For additional information see:
Thonemann, P., 2016. The Hellenistic World: Using Coins as Sources. Cambridge.
Size: D: 32mm ; 16g