“Regulated” Imitation of a Thasos Tetradrachm

354, Lot: 270. Estimate $150. Sold for $200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EASTERN EUROPE, Imitations of Thasos. Late 2nd-1st centuries BC. AR Tetradrachm (34mm, 16.25 g, 12h). Mint in the region of the lower Danube, Moesia, or Thrace. Wreathed head of young Dionysos right / Herakles standing facing, head left, holding club, lion skin draped over arm. OTA Class V; Lukanc Group VII, cf. 1663-4. VF, toned, areas of find patina, some roughness, holed and plugged. Degraded types and legend.

Lukanc cites eighteen holed and plugged coins similar to this example. In this case, it was most likely done to bring the weight up to an acceptable standard for circulation. This is very similar to the practice of “regulated” gold coins during the colonial and early Federal period of U.S. history.