Go to Index, Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI, Part XII, Part XIII, Part XIV, Part XV, Roman Coins: Republic and Principate, Roman Coins: Empire, Coins from the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, Coins from the National Museum in Warsaw, Poland, Coins from the Hunterian Museum
silver tetratrachm of Akanthos in Macedonia: 400-350 BCE
A lion attacks a bull, biting into his hindquarters, forcing his head back, and bending his front legs.
Lisbon, Calouste Gulbenkian Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: coin, animal
silver coin of Agrigentum, Sicily: fifth century BCE
A giant crab hovers above Scylla,
who is depicted as a female with ravening dogs at her loins.
Amsterdam, Allard Pierson Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: mythology; monster; Odyssey
silver
tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, 336-323 BCE
The reverse of this coin depicts Zeus seated on a throne and holding a scepter and an eagle, reflecting the cult statue sculpted by Pheidias in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia
Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: coin; Jupiter
silver
tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, 336-323 BCE
obverse, head of
Herakles with lion-skin helmet
reverse, enthroned
Zeus as sculpted by Pheidias in Temple of Zeus at Olympia
London,
British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2001
Keywords: Jupiter
silver
tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, 336-323 BCE (different from above)
obverse, head of
Herakles with lion-skin helmet
reverse, enthroned
Zeus as sculpted by Pheidias in Temple of Zeus at Olympia
London,
British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2001
Keywords: Jupiter
silver
tetradrachm of Seleucus I; Greek, 305-281 BCE
shows head of Alexander
the Great wearing helmet covered in leopard-skin, with a bull's horn and
ear
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2001
Keywords:
coin, Hellenistic empire
silver
tetradrachm of Lysimachus, king of Thrace; Greek, 305-281 BCE
shows
head of Alexander the Great wearing the royal diadem and the ram's horn that
marked him as the son of Zeus-Ammon
London, British Museum. Credits:
Barbara McManus, 2001
Keywords: coin, Hellenistic empire
silver
tetradrachm of Ptolemy I, king of Egypt; Greek, 305-282 BCE
shows head
of Alexander the Great wearing an elephant-scalp headdress, referring to his
conquests in the East
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus,
2001
Keywords: coin, Hellenistic empire
gold medallion of Alexander the Great: Greek, Macedonia, 218-246 CE
Nike hands helmet to Alexander; the shield she holds shows a Greek warrior defeating an Amazon, similar to a figure on Pheidias' statue of Athena Parthenos. The inscription, in Greek, reads "Alexander, the King."
Berlin, Pergamon Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2005
Keywords: coin, Hellenistic empire
silver drachm of
Antiochus III, King of Syria (223-187 BCE)
London, British Museum.
Credits: Barbara McManus, 2001
Keywords: coin; Hellenistic empire
gold octadrachm in
the name of Arsinoe II, 256/55 BCE
her head is veiled and she wears a
diadem.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2001
Keywords: coin; Hellenistic empire; Hellenistic queen
silver decadrachm
in the name of Arsinoe II, 261/50-253/52 BCE
her head is veiled and she
wears a diadem.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2001
Keywords: coin; Hellenistic empire; Hellenistic queen
sliver obols with head
of Athena and owl; Athenian public pay
Athens, fifth century BCE)
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 1999
Keywords: coinage,
coin
silver coin of
Athens, c. 450 BCE
depicts helmeted head of goddess Athena on one side,
and owl and olive
branch, symbols of the city of Athens, on the other.
London, British
Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2001
Keywords: Athene
silver coin of
Acragas, c. 420-420 BCE
depicts two eagles devouring a hare.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 1999
Keywords:
Oresteia, animals
silver didrachm from Cyrenaica, Cyrene, c. 300-260 BCE
This coin reverse depicts the silphium plant (also called asafoetida), from which the Greeks and Romans extracted a spice used in seasoning food and for medicinal purposes.
Vienna, Kunsthistorishes Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
gold pendant
containing gold stater from Cyrene, c. 4th century BCE
The god is shown
seated on a throne.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus,
2001
Keywords: coin, jewelry
silver stater of
Delphi; larger
version, 336-35 BCE
Apollo seated on omphalos with the
inscription "of the Amphictions."
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara
McManus, 1999, 2001
Keywords: coin, prophecy
silver
tetradrachm of Demetrios I of Macedon; Greek, 306-283 BCE
Demetrios, called Poliorketes ("the Beseiger"), commemorated his numerous naval victories with a series of these coins, in which a winged Nike stands on a ship's prow blowing a trumpet and holding a stylis (the cross-arm of a ship's mast) in her left arm.
Copenhagen, National Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: coin, Hellenistic empire
silver stater of
Poseidonia, Greek city in southern Italy, 6th century BCE
depicts the
patron deity of the city, Poseidon, hurling his trident.
London, British
Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 1999, 2001
Keywords: Neptune, coin
gold pentadrachm in
the name of Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt
withdrawn from circulation by
Ptolemy II shortly before 258/57 BCE;
he wears a band-style diadem over
hair tousled in the style of Alexander the Great.
London, British Museum.
Credits: Barbara McManus, 2001
Keywords: coin; Hellenistic empire
tetradrachm
of Ptolemy I of Egypt, 3rd century BCE
with head of Alexander the Great
wearing an Elephant headdress symbolizing his victory over India;
reverse
depicts Athena and an
eagle, the badge of Ptolemy I.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara
McManus, 2001
Keywords: coin; Hellenistic empire; Athene
silver tetradrachm
of Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt, 261/50-253/52 BCE;
he wears a
band-style diadem over hair tousled in the style of Alexander the Great.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2001
Keywords: coin;
Hellenistic empire
silver tetradrachm of
Samos, 2nd century BCE
shows the statue of the goddess Hera from her
temple on the island
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus,
2001
Keywords: Juno, coin
silver coin of
Selinus, c. 450 BCE
depicts Apollo and Artemis in chariot.
London,
British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 1999
Keywords: Diana
silver coin issued at
sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia; Greek, 5th-4th centuries BCE
shows an
eagle devouring a rabbit
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus,
2001
Keywords: Jupiter
silver coin issued at
sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia; Greek, 5th-4th centuries BCE
shows a
running Nike; the Greek letters FA refer to the city of Elis, which controlled
the sanctuary
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2001
Keywords: Jupiter
silver coin issued at
sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia; Greek, 5th-4th centuries BCE
shows a
thunderbolt; the Greek letters FA refer to the city of Elis, which controlled
the sanctuary
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2001
Keywords: Jupiter
silver coin issued at
sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia; Greek, 5th-4th centuries BCE
shows the
head of Zeus; the Greek letters FALEION refer to the city of Elis, which
controlled the sanctuary
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus,
2001
Keywords: Jupiter
gold stater of
Pergamon, 336-323/320 BCE;
smaller version.
Dating from the period after the conquest of Pergamon by Alexander the Great, this coin depicts an archaistic
cult statue of Athena resembling the mythical Palladium at Troy; it is thought to depict the cult statue from the Temple of Athena on the acropolis at Pergamon. The goddess holds a shield with her left hand and brandishes a spear with her right; she wears on her head a calathos, a cylincrical grain basket symbolizing abundance. Her helmet lies near her feet.
Berlin, Pergamon Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2012
Keywords: Palladion
silver tetradrachm of
Pergamon, c. 270 BCE
This coin was issued by King Philetairos, founder of the Attalid dynasty in Pergamon. The
obverse shows the
diademmed head of Seleukos I (an officer under Alexander the Great who later founded the Seleucid dynasty). The reverse depicts Athena seated on a throne; she holds a spear in her left arm and with her outstretched right hand balances a shield with a Medusa decoration. A helmeted head appears in front the shield and the name of Philetairos is inscribed behind the goddess.
Berlin, Pergamon Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2012
silver coin of
Pergamon, c. 2 BCE
shows the cista mystica (basket containing
sacred implements of Dionysus) with snake
Amsterdam, Allard Pierson Museum.
Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: Bacchus, religion. ritual
silver coin of
Delphi, c. 236-234 BCE;
smaller version.
The obverse of this coin depicts the head of Demeter wearing a diadem and veil (stephane).
Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: Ceres, religion, mythology
silver coin of
Syracuse, c. 412-385 BCE;
smaller version.
The obverse of this coin depicts the head of Athena facing front. The goddess wears an elaborate helmet and necklace; she is flanked by leaping dolphins, symbolic of Syracuse.
Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: Minerva, religion, mythology
silver coin of
Athens, second to first century BCE;
smaller version.
The obverse of this coin depicts a bust of Athena wearing an elaborate helmet with a crest and griffins; the design is based on the famous statue of Athena Parthenos by Phidias.
Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: Minerva, religion, mythology
silver coin of
Abydos, c. 387-325 BCE;
smaller version.
The obverse of this coin depicts an archaic cult statue of Athena from Abydos; the goddess wears a veil and high polos headdress and holds a spear in her right hand.
Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: Minerva, religion, mythology
silver tetradrachm of
Aigai in Aiolis, after 165 BCE;
smaller version.
The obverse of this coin depicts the head of Apollo. The god wears a laurel wreath on his long flowing hair, and a bow and quiver can be see at his shoulder.
Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: religion, mythology
silver coin of Perga in Pamphylia, c. 253-241 BCE;
smaller version.
The reverse of this coin shows Artemis standing next to a stag that looks up to the goddess. She holds a wreath in her right hand and a spear in her left. She wears a diadem and is garbed as a huntress, with a bow and quiver on her shoulder and high, shaggy boots.
Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: Diana, religion, mythology
silver coin of Argos, c. 400-360 BCE;
smaller version.
The obverse of this coin depicts the head of Hera wearing a necklace and a short polos headdress with relief decoration.
Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: Juno, religion, mythology
silver coin of Megalopolis, Arkadian League, c. 385-364 BCE;
smaller version.
The obverse of this coin depicts the head of Hera, whose very short hair is bound by a diadem with relief decoration.
Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: Juno, religion, mythology
silver coin of the Kingdom of Pontos, c. 169-150 BCE;
smaller version.
The reverse of this coin shows Hera and Zeus standing together, both leaning on long scepters. Hera's head is veiled and Zeus wears a radiate crown.
Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: Juno, Jupiter, religion, mythology
silver coin of Philip III, kingdom of Macedonia, c. 323-317 BCE;
smaller version.
The reverse of this coin depicts Zeus, bearded, sitting on a throne; he holds a long scepter in his left hand while an eagle sits on his right hand stretched out over a leaping dolphin.
Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: Jupiter, religion, mythology
electrum coin of Mysia, c. 400-330 BCE;
smaller version.
The obverse of this coin depicts the head of Hermes; the youthful god wears a traveler's cap (petasos).
Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: Mercury, religion, mythology
silver coin of Priansos in Crete, c. 330-280 BCE;
smaller version.
The reverse of this coin depicts the bearded sea-god Poseidon standing and holding a trident in his left hand; his right hand is outstretched toward a leaping dolphin.
Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: Neptune, religion, mythology
gold octadrachm of Tyre, 103 BCE;
smaller version.
The obverse of this coin shows the head of the goddess Tyche wearing a veil (stephane) and a mural crown (depicting the walls of a city).
Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: Fortuna, religion, mythology
Go to Index, Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI, Part XII, Part XIII, Part XIV, Part XV, Roman Coins: Republic and Principate, Roman Coins: Empire, Coins from the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, Coins from the National Museum in Warsaw, Poland, Coins from the Hunterian Museum
revised October, 2013
