Stater from Thyrreium

A stater struck in Thyrreium, with the head of a beardless Achelous in profile on the front and Apollo sitting on a throne on the back. On the right-hand side of the back face is the word ΘYPPHΩN.

Achelous was an ancient Greek god of the Achelous River, worshipped throughout Greece in various cities and considered to be the most notable of the gods of the rivers. Thyrreium was not along the river, although the island was located near its mouth, which partly shows how widely the cult of Achelous had spread.

Apollo on the back face refers to Apollo Aktios, whose temple was located in the Ambracian Gulf in the province of Acarnania, to which Thyrreium belonged. Aktios was added to the name because the temple was located in the city of Actium. Apollo was the patron god of the city, and according to Strabo, the geographer, games dedicated to the god were held there every five years.

This coin is a good example of coins that could be struck by cities that did not have any well-known special characteristics. All the characteristics refer to the province where the island was located, except for the name of the city on the back.