On the Possible Names of Issuers on Imitations of Thracian Tetradrachms from the Middle and Second Half of the 1st Century BC

Abstract

The reason for this paper is the interesting results reflected in my last book on the topic of some coinages in Thrace from the period of 2nd – 1st century BC. Several scholars have explored the topic and achieved notable results. My work starts based on what they achieved. During my work on the imitations of the Dionysus-Heracles/Soter type, I registered several inscriptions on coins that I believe could belong to names of people.
The idea of the present article is to provoke a discussion about the possible issuers of this unusually rich coinage of Thracian tetradrachms of the Dionysus-Heracles/Soter type. At the time when they were minted in Thrace, bronze coins with the names of Thracian kings were also minted. It is necessary to emphasize the fact that the names of the Thracian kings, with the sole exception of KOTYOC XAPAKTHP, are not rendered on the silver tetradrachms. With few exceptions, we see the ethnonym ΘPAKΩN being connected to the name of Heracles.
To explain this phenomenon, it is important to understand the nature of the imitations of the Thracian tetradrachm. All late Hellenistic tetradrachm issues are organized in the same way. The iconography contains a text showing who the issuer is (city, ruler, etc.), when the coin was minted (through mint marks or a specific date), and who the responsible person is (through monogram(s). The imitations of the Thasos and Maroneia types, however, have none of these features. They have no resemblance to other late Hellenistic coinages. There are no anchor points to be explored. They are unique as a phenomenon and random in their internal organization. However, the analysis shows a well-functioning, full-fledged monetary machine. This suggests an external center of organization and influence.
Here, I will address only one problem for discussion: that of the numerous inscriptions, which perhaps denote the name(s) of the issuer(s).