HistoricalCoins

Sale: CNG 61, Lot: 549. Closing Date: Sep 25, 
2002. THRACE, Kings of. Kotys II. BID Estimate 
$3000  

THRACE, Kings of. Kotys II. Circa 57-48 BC. AR 
Tetradrachm (16.36 gm). Wreathed head of Dionysos 
right / KOTUOC right, CARAKTHR left, nude Herakles 
standing left, holding club and lion's skin. 
Youroukova 145; Lukanc 1924-1926. Good VF. 
Extremely rare, only a few specimens known! 
($3000)
Youroukova records only six known specimens of 
this coin, all struck from the same obverse die. 
Unique to Kotys, the legend is exceptional in that 
Kotys' name is written in the genitive, as is 
found on most coins, but the Greek word carakthr 
is written in the nominative, thus giving the 
entire meaning of the legend as 'die or seal of 
Kotys.' This, of course, would distinguish it from 
the very common and contemporary imitative 
tetradrachms of Thasos that circulated in the same 
region and were otherwise stylistically identical.

                  Copyright © CNG 2002

Used by permission of Classical Numismatic Group, www.cngcoins.com.