Obverse: Satyr Carrying off a Protesting Nymph
(Archaic Style)
Reverse: Quadripartite Incuse Square
Thasos is an island in the north Aegean Sea, off
the coast of Thrace, which contained prolific gold
mines during ancient times. Archilochus
described Thasos as " an ass's backbone crowned
with wild wood," and the description still suits
the mountainous island with its forests of fir.
Besides its gold mines, the wine, nuts and
marble of Thasos were well known in antiquity.
The island was colonized at an early date by
Phoenicians, probably attracted by its mines
Thasus, son of Phoenix, is said to have been the
leader of the Phoenicians, and to have given his
name to the island. During the 7th Century, the
island became increasingly Hellenized, through
contact with the Greeks who began settling
along the coastal regions of Thrace. Thasos also
enjoyed controlling interest in several silver
mines on the Greek mainland, a testament to the
enormous wealth and power of this island. In 492
BC, Thasos fell to the Persians during the Ionian
revolt. After the defeat of Persia by Athens,
Thasos joined the Delian League. Later, the
island would come under Roman control.
How many hands have touched a coin in your
pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the
coin traversed on its journey into our
possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull
out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of
who might have touched the coin before us, or
where the coin will venture to after it leaves our
hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of
the state that struck them, of a specific time and
location, whether contemporary currencies or
artifacts of a long forgotten empire. This
stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise
of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail
that is often lacking in contemporary machine-
made currencies. Today, the gold mines and
marble quarries of Thasos have all been
depleted. However, this silver drachm is a
stunning memorial to the golden age of this
ancient island.
