CELTIC THASOS SILVER TETRADRACHM IMITATION – RARE ISSUE WITH SILVER PLUG ADDED – VF GREEK THRACIAN ISLANDS COIN (Inv. 21081)

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21081. EASTERN CELTS. IMITATION OF THASOS. Ca. 1st CENTURY BC.
Silver Tetradrachm, 16.36 g, 33 mm.
Obv. Wreathed head of young Dionysus right. Rev. “ΗΡΑΚΛΕΟΥΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΘΑΣΙΩΝ” rendered in lines of dots, Heracles standing facing, head right, holding club, lion skin draped over right arm.
Cf. Lukanc, nos. 1697 and 1782 for pieces of similar style and with the reversed orientation of Heracles; cf. Kostial nos. 987 and 991 for similar coins with added silver plugs.
Ex Prof. David MacDonald Collection.
About VF, planchet bent slightly during the insertion process of the impressive silver plug; the plug was probably added to increase the substandard weight of the coin to the norms accepted in circulation. Such “plugged” coins are rare and infrequently encountered, with CoinArchives listing nine such pieces.