Istros Silver Drachm Replica – Two Heads & Eagle on Dolphin (400–300 BC)

This replica is based on one of the most distinctive and mysterious silver drachms of the ancient Greek world, minted in Istros (Istrus) on the western coast of the Black Sea, in what is now Romania.

Obverse:
The front of the coin shows two male heads side by side, one upright and one inverted.
This unusual dual portrait has long puzzled historians. It may represent:

• the Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux), protectors of sailors
• the sun rising and setting over the Danube
• or a symbol of duality and balance important to the city’s identity

Regardless of interpretation, it remains one of the most striking designs in ancient Greek coinage.

Reverse:
The reverse features a sea eagle standing left, attacking or grasping a dolphin beneath it.
This dramatic maritime symbol reflects Istros’ position as a coastal trading hub where Greek settlers depended on both river and sea for commerce and survival. The letter beneath the dolphin, such as Γ, identifies a local magistrate or series.

Historical Background:
Between 400 and 300 BC, Istros was a thriving Greek colony on the edge of the Black Sea, engaged in trade with both Greek and Scythian worlds. Its coinage blends Greek artistic style with local symbolism tied to the sea, the river Danube, and navigation.
The two-headed obverse and the eagle-and-dolphin reverse make this one of the most collectible types from the region.