Silver Tetradrachm of Aenus (Ainos), Thrace, Turkey, 15.87 g.

Silver Tetradrachm of Aenus (Ainos), Thrace, Turkey, 15.87 g.

Aenus (Ainos), Thrace, Turkey

c. 380 BCE

Obverse: Facing head of Hermes wearing petasos.

Reverse: In incuse, goat facing right.; astragalos below; amphora in right field; AINION: of the Ainians.

Style/Period: Greek (ancient)

In the first half of the fourth century BCE, the coins of Ainos retain the types established in the fifth century, the head of Hermes on the obverse and his symbol the goat on the reverse, but the head of Hermes is now almost facing rather than profile (see 91.044). The immediate inspiration for the change was probably the near-facing head of Apollo on the coins of Amphipolis (see 93.008), a type introduced in the late fifth century, but the Amphipolitan type must have been inspired by the famous facing Arethusa of Kimon (see 93.007), which shortly before appeared on the coins of Syracuse and which influenced die-cutters all over the Greek world (see 91.018, 91.064, 91.085, 91.088, 93.006, 93.008, 93.009).
Some changes were introduced to the reverses as well. The reverse as a whole is still incuse, but no longer framed by the square of the earlier coins. The goat is now accompanied by the complete name of the town and by multiple symbols in the field, which signal a change of issue. The symbols in this case are a pointed amphora or two-handled pot and an astragalos, a rectangular knucklebone often used as a die or gaming piece.
--Peter A. Martens, LU '96

Bibliography: J.M.F. May, Ainos, its history and coinage (Oxford 1950).

Former collection of Ottilia Buerger. Bank Leu, 1982.

91.045

Wriston Art Center Galleries, Lawrence University, Appleton, WI,wriston-gallery@lawrence.edu,920-832-6890

Greek, god, Hermes, petasos, goat, astragalos, amphora, Aenus, Ainos, Thrace, Turkey