(Vendue pour $111.0)

Moesia, Istros (4th century BC) AR Drachm. Twins / Sea-Eagle with Dolphin. R!

Mint Place: Istros Period: 4th Century BC Region: Moesia Inferior Denomination: AR Drachm Reference: SNG Black Sea 252. R! Condition: Minor deposits, otherwise a nice XF for type! Diameter: 18mm Material: Silver Weight: 5.54gm

Obverse: Inverted twin male heads facing, united and one inverted.

Reverse: Sea-eagle left, grasping dolphin with talons. Legend (ΙΣTPIH) above. Privy letter (П) below.

Ancient Histria or Istros (Thracian river god, Danube), was a Greek colony on the Black Sea coast, established by Milesian settlers to trade with the native Getae. It became the first Greek town on the present day Romanian territory. Scymnus of Chios (ca 110 BC), the Greek geographer and poet, dated it to 630 BC. Eusebius of Caesarea, some centuries later, dated its founding to 657 – 656 BC, at the time of the 33rd Olympic Games. During the archaic and classical periods, when Histria flourished, it was situated near fertile arable land. It served as a port of trade soon after its establishment, with fishing and agriculture as additional sources of income. By 100 AD, however, fishing was almost the sole remaining source of Istrian revenue.