Coins that celebrate vineyards, wine, grapes....

[Sulla80]

I have added a new Thracian triobol from Maroneia to my post on Tracian Wine from Feb 2022:

https://www.sullacoins.com/post/thracian-wine-coins

Post your coins showing grapes, Thrace and coins of Maroneia - or anything else that you find interesting or entertaining.

 

Edited November 2, 2024 by Sulla80

[Phil Anthos]

Io Dionysus!

Maroneia, Thrace

400-350 BC AE14 (13mm, 3.77g) O: Horse prancing right; NK monogram below. R: ΜΑΡ−ΩΝΙ−ΤΩΝ around linear square, vine with four bunches of grapes within; YE below. SNG Cop 632; Sear 1636; BMC Thrace 129,66 ex Forvm Auctions "The wine urges me on, the bewitching wine, which sets even a wise man to singing and to laughing gently and rouses him up to dance and brings forth words which were better unspoken." ~ Homer (The Odyssey)   Taras, Calabria 272-240/35 BC AR Obol (10mm, 0.53g) O: Kantharos; three pellets around. R: Kantharos with bunch of grapes to right; pellets around. D'Andrea XLIV, 1522; Vlasto 1661 (this coin); SNG France 2206; Cote ---; HN Italy 1076; Sear 356v Scarce From the M.P Vlasto collection. ex Den of Antiquity Vlasto plate coin, #1661. The kantharos device on this series of coins, and the bunch of grapes on this particular specimen, probably refer to the influence upon the Tarentines of the local cult of Chthonic Dionysus, and a festival to Him was held annually within the city.   Taras, Calabria 276-272 BC (Period VII - The Pyrrhic Hegemony) AR Didrachm (20mm, 6.44g) Apollo(...) magistrate. O: Helmeted warrior on horse cantering left, carrying two javelins and a large round shield decorated with eight-rayed star; ΞΩ behind, [AΠOΛΛΩ] (magistrate) below. R: Taras (of the plump Dionysiac type) astride dolphin left, holding bunch of grapes in extended right hand, distaff over left shoulder; ANΘ to right, TAPAΣ below. D'Andrea XLII, 1203; Vlasto 789-91; Evans VII, F2 or F6; Cote 413; SNG France 1920; McGill II, 84; HGC I, 887; SNG ANS 1131-33; HN Italy 1013 ex Numisantique The helmeted warrior shown here behind a large shield is a definite departure from the typical image found on this coinage. The earlier naked skirmishers have been replaced by the fully armored cavalryman presented here. This was of course a gradual process, but the evolution becomes more apparent on later issues where the rider is clearly depicted wearing a cuirass. This plump rendition of Taras also differs greatly from previous images and is actually meant to represent a young Iacchus, the son of Dionysus and Persephone. Similar images can be found on kraters and terracotta votives found in the region. The attributes of Dionysus which he carries show the foreign influence of the chthonic cult of Dionysus upon the city of Taras. This relatively new mystery cult was introduced along side the earlier ouranic cults of Poseidon and Apollo, and the inclusion of Iacchus here represents a distinct link to the Mysteries of Eleusis. The distaff, in this context, is probably a reference to Ariadne, a wife of Dionysus, but its’ phallic nature also symbolizes the god of ecstasy Himself. - The Tarantinians Carouse - The theaters are full, music everywhere, here debauchery and lewdness, and there athletic and sophistical contests. An unwithering wreath adorns the statue of Dionysus. Not an earthly nook remains unsprinkled by libations... ~ Kavafy (1933)

[taja1948]

 

Maroneia Late 2nd-mid 1st centuries BC 16.58

 

Schönert-Geiss 1031.1 (V19/R53) = Jameson 1063 (this coin); HGC 3, 1556; Pozzi 1056 (same dies); SNG Berry 496 (same dies)

Head of young Dionysos right, wearing wreath of ivy and berries / Dionysos, nude, standing half-left, holding grapes in right hand, cradling narthex stalks in, and drapery hanging from, left arm; ΔIONYΣOY ΣΩTHPOΣ at sides, monograms to inner left and right, MAPΩNITΩN below. Deep iridescent toning, light cleaning marks under tone. Choice EF. Very rare issue, only four examples known to Schönert-Geiss. Of the finest style. Ex Gasvoda Collection (Triton XXII, 9 January 2019), lot 165; Friend of a Scholar Collection (CNG inventory 405841, April 2015); Olga H. Knoepke Collection (Glendining’s, 10 December 1986), lot 120; Hess-Leu (7 April 1960), lot 116; Robert Jameson Collection.

[Phil Anthos]

Maroneia, Thrace

after 148 BC AE27 (27mm, 14.25g) O: Head of Dionysus right, wearing ivy wreath. R: Dionysus standing left, holding bunch of grapes; ∆ΙΟΝΙΣΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΜΑΡΩΝΙΤΩΝ, monogram to lower left. SNG Copenhagen 643v (monogram); Sear 1638 ex Jack H. Beymer Maroneia was named for Maron, a son of Dionysus. This region was famous in ancient times for the quality of its wine, which was Maroneia’s leading export.

Thasos, Thrace

after 148 BC AR Tetradrachm (33mm, 16.86g) O: Head of young Dionysus right, wreathed in ivy and flowers. R: Herakles standing nude left, holding club and lion's skin; ΣΩTHPOΣ left, HPAKΛOYΣ right, ΘAΣIΩN in ex. SNG Cop 1040; Sear 1759 Inhabited since prehistoric times, the island of Thasos is said to be the mythological home of the Sirens. Phoenician traders occupied Thasos by the late ninth century BC, drawn by her prolific gold mines. A hundred years later Greek colonists from Paros settled on the island and prospered from Thasos’ gold and marble production, as well as her fertile vineyards. Thasian wine was renowned throughout the Mediterranean, for which they honored Dionysus on their coinage. A brush with the Persian army under King Darius at the beginning of the fifth century caused Thasos to increase her production of war ships, and after the defeat of Xerxes in 480 BC Thasos joined the Delian League. However a dispute with Athens over mining interests on the Thracian mainland led Thasos to revolt in 465 BC, only to submit after the Athenians destroyed her ships and razed the city walls. The island was occupied by Sparta from 404 until 393 BC, when Thasos fell to Athens, who eventually granted her independence. Thasos then came under the control of Phillip II of Macedonia around 340 BC, who immediately seized the gold mines. Thasos remained a part of the Macedonian Empire until falling under Roman rule in 197 BC.

[Deinomenid]

Having that rhyton  next to the grapes is wonderful!

Here's a stater of Maroneia ~405BC Horse jumping left, above knucklebone//vine, Kerykeion.

And more soberingly, here's what could be described as a neoThracian steel die that's apparently been doing the rounds!

 

[Ryro]

Cool coin! What's the other side look like?

Here's one that you might recognize:

THRACE. Maroneia. Ca. 2nd-1st centuries BC. AR tetradrachm (31mm, 1h). NGC Choice Fine, edge bends. Ca. after 146 BC. Head of Dionysus right, wreathed with ivy, wearing mitra (cloth headband) / ΔIONYΣOY / ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ-MAPΩNITΩN, Dionysus standing facing, head left, nude except for cloak draped over left arm, bunch of grapes in outstretched right hand, narthex stalks cradled in left arm; ΠAPΩ monogram in inner left field, ΠAΩ monogram in inner right field. SNG Copenhagen 637-644 var. (different monograms).

Edited November 2, 2024 by Ryro

[kirispupis]

I'll drink to that!

Mysia, Perperene
4th century BCE
Chalkous AE 8 mm, 0.69 g, 11 h
Laureate head of Apollo to right.
Rev. ΠΕΡΠΕ Bunch of grapes on vine.
Plankenhorn, Mysien, p. 147, 11 (this coin). SNG Paris 2309. Stauber & Barth 10, d (this coin)
Ex collection of G. Plankenhorn

 

Moesia, Dionysopolis
4th century BCE
AE 4.40g 17mm
Obv: Wreathed head of Dionysos right.
Rev: ΔIONYΣO. Bunch of grapes.
Draganov, Bronze 1; HGC 3.2, 1777

 

Cyclades, Keos. Koressos
4th century BCE
Ae 12mm 1.53g
Obv: Cuttlefish.
Rev: K-O bunch of grapes.
HGC 6, 588

[JayAg47]

I think I just have the right photo for this post!

[Sulla80]

25 minutes ago, JayAg47 said:

I think I just have the right photo for this post!

grapes on coin AND coin on grapes - LOL!

[Phil Anthos]

I want to buy this, it looks just like Repo.  🙂

[NewStyleKing]

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 115/4 BC

Obs:Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
16.56g 29mm Thompson issue 50
Thompson catalogue : Obs 639 : Rev ? (altered)
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora on
which month mark Γ/Β/Α control ΣΦ below
3 magistrates : METRODOROS DEMOSTHE(N) KALLIPH / PYRROS
RF symbol : Bunch of Grapes on vine leaf
All within a surrounding olive wreath

This the type that was called out by being called "frankly a mess" by Thoneman. Not a fan eh! I love it One of my few remaining Middle catalogue coins.

[Alegandron]

I captured this coin because it depicted Mithras, and not too many coins did.  Mithraism was the leading religion within the Legions and competed with Christianity during the Empire period.

Bithynia, Kios Circa 250 BC, AE11

1.06g
Laureate head of Mithras right
Kantharos with two grape bunches hanging down, "K-I" below, all within a wreath.
SNG Cop 382

Ex: AEGEAN Numismatics

[khaghogh]

Grapes and only grapes...

Likely a mint in Macedonia or Northern Greece (this type formerly attributed to Tenos, Cyclades) AR 2.43 grams

Ex-Ward Collection (Greek Coins And Their Parent Cities; 1902; coin 481 = this coin); ex-Metropolitan Museum of Art (donated by JP Morgan after buying Ward Collection in 1905)