Thrace. Thasos. AR Stater (9.56g), ca. 500 BC. BMFA 851; Kraay & Hirmer 435. Old cabinet tone. Well centered and struck on an unusual broad flan. A beautiful example of how the northern Greek engravers expressed a 'joie de vivre' not found elsewhere on Greek coinage! Choice extremely fine. Acquired privately from Sonja Lambert, Brussels; Ferdinand De Vos (1942-2020) collection, acquired privately from Tradart, Brussels; The Numismatic Auction 1983 (2) lot 71.

"Charming is the vehemence of satyrs when they dance, charming their ribaldry when they laugh; they are given to live, noble creatures that they are, who subdue the women to their will by their artful flatteries" (Philostratus the Elder, Imagines, 1.22). Satyrs were rustic fertility spirits of the countryside and wilds, depicted as animalistic men with asinine ears, pug noses, reclining hair-lines, the tails of horses and erect members. Companions of the god Dionysos, they were usually shown drinking, dancing, playing flutes and 'sporting' with the nymphs...