A truly ancient city, Ainos is attested to by written sources as having been founded in the 7th century BC and having begun issuing struck coinage in the 470's BC. Issued between c. 412/1 and 410/9 BC,m this particular tetradrachm weighs 16.49g and is almost exactly equal to three Persian sigloi. This was due to the fact that during this, the second major issuance of first phase coinage by the city of Ainos (which started c. 435 BC), the local moneyers initially used the Persic weight standard. This standard interestingly was adapted after the Persians withdrew from the city in 478 BC.

As the patron deity of Ainos, it is no surprise that Hermes Perpheraios ("the wanderer") appears on the obverse of this coin. While an artistic antecedent to the better known 3/4 facing portrait type issued roughly 15-25 years later, this specific portrait of the god is particularly expressive and a fine demonstration of the die engravers skill.