Thrace, Aigospotamoi. Ae, 7.15 g 21.25 mm. Late 4th century BC.
Obv: Head of Hera to left, wearing triple-pendant earring, necklace and laureate polos
Rev: Goat standing to left; ΑΙΓΟΣΠΟ around, star below.
Ref: SNG Copenhagen 850 var. (no star); HGC 3.2, 1260.
Fine

This bronze coin originates from Aigospotamoi, an ancient city on the Hellespont, best known for the decisive naval battle of the Peloponnesian War in 405 BC. In this battle, Sparta defeated the Athenian fleet, effectively ending Athens’ dominance over the Greek world.

The obverse of the coin depicts the head of the goddess Hera facing left. Hera is shown wearing a laurel-wreathed polos crown, a symbol of divine dignity and royal authority. The image is further enriched by detailed jewelry: a triple-pendant earring and a necklace — typical features of late Classical art emphasizing Hera’s divine and majestic character.

The reverse shows a goat standing to the left. This motif is directly connected to the name of the city, as “Aigospotamoi” translates to “Goat Rivers” in Greek. Above the animal appears the inscription ΑΙΓΟΣΠΟ, an abbreviation of the city’s name. Beneath the goat, a star is depicted — an additional emblematic feature not present in other varieties of the series (cf. SNG Copenhagen 850 var.).

Its stylistic features and known archaeological contexts suggest a minting date in the late 4th century BC, about a generation after the historic battle, during a period of regional reorganization of Thracian cities.
This issue not only reflects the lasting historical importance of Aigospotamoi in Greek memory but also highlights the local cult of Hera and the strong connection to the natural landscape, embodied by the image of the goat.