Tetradrachm

Billon Tetradrachm First and Second Centuries: Roughly equivalent to a denarius when introduced by Tiberius, the silver content declined rapidly. The tetradrachm was the only denomination to be issued continuously until Diocletian's currency reform in 246. Average size: 23-26 mm. Check out our silver tetradrachm selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our coins & money shops.

DefinitionTetradrachm value

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Philip II of Macedon, 359-336 BC. Alexander the Great's father!
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Pergamon, Mysia, 282-50 BC.
Healing center of the Greek world
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Ancient Greece. Calabria, Tarentum. Circa 272-240 BC. Silver Nomos. Nude rider on horseback right; above, Nike flying right, crowning rider; EY to right, ΔAMO-[KPIT] below / Phalanthos, holding trident and cornucopia, riding dolphin right; monogram to left. 19.5mm, 6.27 g. ref: Vlasto 913; HN Italy 1043 for type. Lightly toned, area of weak strike. VF. Ex CNG. #CG2629: $450 SOLD

Ancient Greece. Akarnania, Leukas, c. 345-307 BC. Silver stater. Helmeted head of Athena right; amphora with grapes and 'A' behind / Pegasus flying left, pellet below. 20.5 mm, 8.14 g. ref: Pegasi II 128v. Purchased in Los Angeles in the mid 1960's. #CG2009: $399

Philip II of Macedon, 359-336 BC. Silver Fifth-Stater. Head of Apollo right bound in tainia / Naked youth on horseback rearing right, E and trident-head below. Choice VF details on both sides, hint of luster. 14.5 mm, 2.50 g. ref: Le Rider p. 318, 14; SNG ANS 723-725v. Ex-Daniel Frank Sedwick, FL. Rare! #CG2331: $425


Syracuse, Sicily. After 410 BC. Bronze AE19 coin. Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet with olive wreath; dolphin before and behind / Hippocamp left in bridle; reins trailing. 19x22 mm, 8.62 g. ref: Calciati 44. Great detail! Olive-green patina, earthen deposits. #CG2337: $125 SOLD

The Healing Center of the Ancient World.
Pergamon, Mysia, Ancient Greece, c. 190-133 BC. Large silver cistophoric tetradrachm, struck c. 166-67 BC. Cista mystica with half-open lid, from which a serpent issues, all within ivy wreath / Two coiled serpents with heads erect, between them a bow case, ornamented with an aplustre, containing a strung bow, in field to right a serpent-entwined staff of Aesklepius; PER monogram to left, AP monogram above. 27 mm, 12.47 g. ref: Mionnet S5, 850; BMC 106; cf Sear 3947-3950. Lovely! #CG2145: $399

The Healing Center of the Ancient World.
Pergamon, Mysia, Ancient Greece, c. 190-133 BC. Large silver cistophoric tetradrachm, struck c. 166-67 BC. Cista mystica with half-open lid, from which a serpent issues, all within ivy wreath / Two coiled serpents with heads erect, between them a bow case, ornamented with an aplustre, containing a strung bow, in field to right a serpent-entwined staff of Aesklepius; monogram to left, AP monogram above. 26.5 mm, 12.58 g. ref: Sear 3948. ex-Frank S. Robinson, Albany, NY. Breathtaking! #CG2260:
SOLD

Seleucid Kings of Syria. Antiochus I Soter, 281-261 BC. Huge silver Tetradrachm. Diademed head of middle-aged Antiochos I right / Apollo seated left on omphalos, examining arrow and resting left hand on bow behind him, BASILEWS ANTIOXOY; AP monogram to left, WCU monogram to right. 29 mm, 16.93 g. ref: BMC 7; Hoover 128. Bright tone. High relief, fantastic portrait! #CG2329: $399

Philip II of Macedon, 359-336 BC. Father of Alexander the Great. Large silver tetradrachm, Pella mint. Laureate head of Zeus facing right / Youth (young Alexander?) on horseback right, holding long palm branch and reins, ΦIΛIΠΠOY above, 12-rayed star beneath horse. 23mm, 14.04 g. ref: Le Rider pl. 45, 11-12, SNGANS 639, LeRider 367. Nice portrait, dark gray cabinet tone. Ex-Los Angeles, CA collection. Very nice! #CG2442: $499

The Star Of Bethlehem Coin! Antioch, Syria. Seleukis ad Pieria. Time of Roman emperor Hadrian, 117-138 AD. Bronze AE18, dated year 177 of the Caesarian Era (128/9 AD). Turreted, veiled, and draped bust of Fortuna right / Ram leaping right, head left; star within crescent and A above, ЄT ZOP (date) below. 18mm, 4.89 g. ref: RPC III 3732; McAlee 125c; BMC 102; SNG Copenhagen 117. ex-Nick Jamgochian collection, Glendale, CA, formed in the 1920’s-1950’s. #CG2486: $250 SOLD

Greek bronze 'arrowhead money' from the Black Sea area. The earliest coinage! c. 7th-5th Century BC. Each is cast in a leaf shape with heavy central midrib. They are of a uniform weight and served as a trade unit before the widespread use of coins. Each is intact and nicely patinated. Length from 35mm to 42mm, Weights from 3.20g to 4.93g. Ex Los Angeles collection. Nicer than photo! #m14255: $75 each (Top left, bottom left, and 2nd down from top right sold, rest available!)

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Side, Pamphylia. Silver tetradrachm of 155-136 BC. Head of Athena rt. in crested Corinthian helmet / Nike advancing left, holding wreath & lifting drapery, pomegranate in left field, magistrate's name KLE-YX. #4011: $385 SOLD

Seleucid Kingdom, Antiochus VII Euergetes, 138-129 BC. Silver tetradrachm, Antioch mint. Diademed head of Antiochus right / Athena standing left, supporting Nike who holds a wreath on extended right hand & resting left hand on grounded shield, vertical spear propped against left arm. DI monogram above H in outer left field,
, all within wreathed border. ref: Newell 282 (sim). Huge 31.5 mm, 14.46 grams! Absolutely gorgeous coin. EF! #85712x2: $650 SOLD
Portrait of Alexander by someone who knew him!
Ancient Greece, Kings of Thrace. Lysimachos, 305-281 BC. Silver tetradrachm, Amphipolis mint. Struck 288-281 BC. Diademed head of deified Alexander the Great right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, spear behind; monograms to inner left and outer right. BASILEWS LYSIMAXOY. 29mm, 16.78 g. ref: Thompson 201; Muller 543 v. VF, toned, rare and nice! #cng2640015x2: $875
SOLD
Ancient Greece. Akarnania, Anaktorion. Circa 320-280 BC. Silver State. Pegasos flying left, monogram below / Helmeted head of Athena left; LO below chin, monogram and omphalos behind. Pegasi 36 var.; BCD Akarnania 105 var. 20mm, 8.54 g. Good VF, nicely toned. From the Deyo Collection. Ex Coin Galleries (18 July 1973), lot 233. #cng2660102: $599 SOLD
Ancient Celtic large silver tetradrachm, minted at the Greek island of Thasos, 2nd century BC. Bust of Dionysos right, wreathed in ivy / A rather swishy Herakles holding club, drapery over shoulder. Celticized-Greek inscription HEPAKLEOYS SOTHPOS THASION. Large 32 mm, 16.26 grams. Slightly wavy flan common to these. Excellent detail! #21031x2-n2uy:
SOLD
Ancient Greece. Pentagram/Pentacle coin! Mysia, Pitane. 4th-3rd century BC. Bronze AE18 coin. Horned head of Zeus Ammon facing three-quarters to right / Pentagram, PITANAIWN. 18.2 mm, 3.20 g. ref: BMC 13; SNG Cop 536. Fine. #CG2176: $199 SOLD
Ancient Greece. Larissa, Thessaly, c. 356-342 BC. Silver drachm. Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left, hair in ampyx / Horse standing right, preparing to lie down. 17.5 mm, 5.97 g. ref: Lorber, Hoard, Group L-III; BCD Thessaly II 325. Good VF. ex-CNG. #NAV020: $750 SOLD
Ancient Celtic large silver tetradrachm, minted at the Greek island of Thasos, 2nd century BC. Bust of Dionysos right, wreathed in ivy / A rather swishy Herakles, naked, holding club, drapery over shoulder, Celticized-Greek inscription HEPAKLEOYS SOTHPOS THASION. Large 30 mm, 16.25 grams, very thick. Very slight wave in flan. Shiny bright silver surfaces with nice toning in recesses. Gorgeous! ex-Frank S. Robinson, Albany, NY. #CC2012: $399 SOLD
Macedon, Greece, c. 167-149 BC. HUGE silver tetradrachm minted under Roman occupation, Amphipolis mint. Diademed head of Artemis right with bow and quiver over shoulder in the center of a Macedonian shield / MAKEDONWN PRWTHS, club of Herakles within oak wreath; thunderbolt to left, monograms above and below. 30mm, 16.54 g. ref: Prokopov, Silver 386–400 var.; SNG Copenhagen 1314. VF, lightly toned. ex-CNG. Absolutely gorgeous! #CG2327: $750 SOLD
Ancient Greece. Lycian League, Masikytes. c. 30-27 BC. Silver 1/4 Drachm. Laureate head of Apollo rt. / Lyre, LYKIWN; M-A to either side, branch to left, all within an incuse square. 15 mm, 1.51 g. ref: RPC I. 3303. Nice old collection tone. Ex Karl-Ludwig Grabow with original tag. Gorgeous! #CG2149: $225 SOLD
Ancient Greece. Pentagram/Pentacle coin!
Mysia, Pitane, 400-380 BC. Tiny bronze coin. Horned, bearded head of Zeus Ammon right / P-I-S-O-S around pentagram. ref: BMC 4; Imhoof ZfN I, p. 138. Just 11 mm, 1.10 g. From the famous H.C. Lindgren collection. Dark olive-green patina with light earthen deposits. #CG2201: $175
SOLD
Syracuse, Sicily, Ancient Greece. Timoleon, 343-337 BC, Huge bronze litra. Head of Athena, wearing Corinthian helmet / Starfish between two dolphins. 27 mm, 29.07g. and very thick! ref: S-1189. Excellent detail, nice brassy-green patina. A stunning coin, truly better than photo! ex-Stephen Album. #CG2267: $399 SOLD
Ancient Greece. Pentagram/Pentacle coin!
Mysia, Pitane. 4th-3rd century BC. Bronze AE18 coin. Bearded head of Zeus Ammon right / Π - Ι - Τ - Α -[N], spelled-out between points of a pentagram. 18.28 mm, 3.95 g. ref: BMC 5-10. near VF, green patina with light pitting. Nicer than photo! #CG2425: $199
SOLD
The Poet Homer! Ancient Greece. Smyrna, Ionia, 145-125 BC. Magistrate Kallistratos. Laureate head of Apollo right / Homer seated left on stool, holding scroll and staff, ZMURNAIWN KALLISTRATOS. 20x22 mm, 7.19 g. BMC 79-81; Hunter 14; Mionnet III, 978; Sear Greece 4571 var. Great olive-green patina. Rare! #CG2357: $150 SOLD

Ancient Greek South Italy. Lucania, Velia. Silver didrachm, struck c. 400-350 BC. Helmeted head of Athena left in crested Corinthian helmet ornamented with a gryphon, PHI on ear flap, AP monogram behind / Lion prowling right, caduceus above, YELHTWN below. 21 mm, 7.46 g. ref: BMC 106; Mionnet I, 726. Excellent detail, nice dark grey patina, edge crimped in antiquity. Purchased in Los Angeles in the mid 1960's. #CG2006: $525
SOLD

Ancient Greece. Thessaly, Larissa, c. 400-370 BC. Silver Drachm. Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly right / Horse grazing right, [Λ]ΑΡΙ. ref: BCD Thessaly II 234-8; HGC 4, 430. Good VF, toned. Strong strike on a somewhat compact flan. 17mm, 6.08 g, 6h. From the BCD Collection; ex-CNG. #CG2441: $850 SOLD


Thrace, Maronea, c. 400 - 350 BC. Clump of 5 Greek bronze coins in their original matrix. Each coin originally depicted a prancing horse on the obverse and a linear square containing a vine branch with a bunch of grapes on the reverse. Cf. BMC 66-67 for types. Coins average 14mm in diameter. Measures 30 mm (1 1/4') across, weighs 24.86 grams. ex-Los Angeles, CA coll. #AG2022-2: $325 SOLD
Ancient Greece. Pentagram/Pentacle coin!
Mysia, Pitane. 4th-3rd century BC. Great small bronze AE10 coin. Bearded head of Zeus Ammon right / Pentagram, no central dot or letters abbreviating ethnic in interstices. 10.22 mm, 1.20 g. ref: SNG France 2358; BMC 5-10. VF, multi-colored patina (green, tan and red). #CG2429: $150
SOLD
Istros, Thrace, 4th century BC. Silver drachm. Facing male heads, one inverted / Sea-eagle on the back of a dolphin, ISTPIS. Theta behind, Sigma below. 18 mm, 5.7 g. $250 SOLD

Ancient Greece. Corinthia, Corinth. Circa 375-300 BC. Silver Stater. Pegasus flying left / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; A-P at neck; behind, eagle standing left. Pegasi I 426; BCD Corinth 101. VF, well centered, lightly toned. A beautiful example! 20mm, 8.51 g. #gv0797: $499 SOLD


Ancient Greece. Sikyonia, Sikyon, c. 360-330 BC. Silver hemidrachm. Chimera advancing left, forepaw raised, monogram below / Dove flying left. Nice toning. 15.5 mm, 2.69 g. #11DS977x2: $250 SOLD


Ancient Greece. Akarnania, Anaktorion. Circa 350-300 BC. Silver Stater. Pegasus flying left / Helmeted head of Athena left; KLE above, monogram below, monogram and filleted bucranium behind. ref: Pegasi 71; BCD Akarnania 86. Near VF. 22mm, 8.07 grams. Perfectly aligned for a bezel. #cng2760128: $599
SOLD
Ancient Greece. Akarnania, Leukas, c. 345-307 BC. Silver stater. Helmeted head of Athena right; amphora with grapes and 'A' behind / Pegasus flying right, lambda below. 21 mm, 8.57 g. and very thick! Excellent coin. ex-Virginia collection. #2602: $599 SOLD
Ephesos (Ephesus), Ionia. Silver drachm, 3rd-2nd century BC. Bee, with EPH above / Stag standing right, palm tree in background, magistrate's name down right. 18 mm, 3.00 g. ref: BMC 122-130v. Dark patina, one chipped edge. Rare! #CG2013: $225 SOLD
Ephesos (Ephesus), Ionia. Circa 500-420 BC. Silver Diobol.
Bee, EPH to sides / Quadripartite incuse square. ref: Karwiese Series V, 2A; SNG Kayhan 124. Beautiful VF, with original find patina. 11 mm, 1.05 g. From the Daniel Koppersmith Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 259 (6 July 2011), lot 115. Gorgeous! #CG2062: $299
SOLD
The Healing Center of the Ancient World.
Pergamon, Mysia, Ancient Greece, c. 190-133 BC. Large silver cistophoric tetradrachm, struck c. 166-67 BC. Cista mystica with half-open lid, from which a serpent issues, all within ivy wreath / Two coiled serpents with heads erect, between them a bow case, ornamented with an aplustre, containing a strung bow, in field to right a serpent-entwined staff of Aesklepius; monogram to left, TEY monogram above. 26.5 mm, 12.53 g. ref: Sear 3948. ex-Frank S. Robinson, Albany, NY. Breathtaking! #CG2205: $499
SOLD
Seleucid Kings of Syria. Antiochus IV Epiphanes, 175-164 BC. Large and magnificent silver tetradrachm, struck 168-164 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos IV right / Zeus enthroned left, holding Nike on extended right hand & sceptre in left, palm branch in outer left field, LB monogram & AS in ex. BASILEWS ANTIOXOY QEOY EPIFANOYS NIKHFOROY. 31 mm, 16.72 g. ref: Morkholm 17. Excellent portrait, crisp detail. VF. #GC2004x2: $525
SOLD
Ancient Greece. Rhodes, c. 170-150 BC. Silver hemidrachm. Thrasymenes, magistrate. Radiate head of Helios facing slightly right / Rose with bud to rt., THRASYMEN above, rising sun to lower left, T to lower rt. 13 mm, 1.23 g. ref: Jenkins, Rhodian Group B, no. 38; SNG Keckman 645. Nice VF, attractively toned. Ex Ludwig Grabow, Berlin, with original label. Fantastic! #CG2150: $299 SOLD
Corinth, ancient Greece, c. 400-338 BC. Nice silver drachm. Head of Aphrodite left / Pegasus, the mythological winged horse springing left, monogram below. ref: BMC 184. 15 mm, 2.44 g. ex-Aegean Numismatics. Great grey patina. #CG2075: $225 SOLD
Ancient Greece. Taras, Calabria, c. 272-238 BC. Silver didrachm, set in custom 18K gold bezel. Boy on horse left, crowning horse with wreath, SY behind, LYKI NOS below / Taras on dolphin, bearing trident, cloak over arm, owl behind, TARAS below. ref: SNG ANS 1165, Vlasto 836. Measures 23 mm diameter, weighs 8.46 grams total. ex-S. Holmes collection, Yorkshire, England; ex-Venture Gallery, Grand Cayman. GORGEOUS! #JN2166: $950 SOLD
Incredible Countermark of Cleopatra!
Antioch, Seleucis & Pieria, struck c. 90-89 BC. Heavy bronze AE22 coin. Originally depicted laureate head of Zeus right / Zeus enthroned left with Nike and sceptre, ANTIOXEWN THS MHTROPOLEWN KAI AYTONOMOY. Struck with a crisp countermark depicting the head of Cleopatra during her reign (c. 51-29 BC), thereby claiming 'ownership' of it as legal tender in her Egypt. It was used to mark coins circulating in the Syro-Phoenician territories which were given to her by Mark Antony. 22 mm, 10.55 g. with beautiful olive-green patina. Ex-Savoca Numismatik GmbH, Munchen, Germany. I seriously considered keeping this one for my own collection! #CE2067: $375
SOLD
Ancient Greece. Corinth, c. 345-307 BC. Silver stater. Pegasos (Pegasus) flying left / Helmeted head of Athena right; ithyphallic herm & N behind. 22 mm, 8.31g. ref: Calciati 385. ex-Tom Cederlind. Incredible detail! #CG2270: $750 SOLD

Ancient Greece. Corinth. Silver Stater, struck c. 415-387 BC. Pegasos (Pegasus) flying left, koppa below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet, dolphin swimming left above, Σ behind head. Ref: Ravel 906; BMC 386; Calciati Pegasi 343. Set into custom 14K gold bezel with 17' rhodium-plated chain. Bezel diameter 20mm. #Y12182: $3200 SOLD

Ancient Greece. Islands off Thasos, Thrace. Large silver Tetradrachm, struck after c. 146 BC. Head of young Dionysus right, wreathed with ivy leaves & berries / Young Herakles standing left, resting right hand on club, lion skin draped over left arm, HΡAKΛEOYΣ ΣΩTH ΡOΣ ΘAΣIΩN; H in inner left field. ref: SNGO 3699. Set into custom 18K gold pendant and 17' chain. Bezel diameter 32mm. #Y12082: $2600 SOLD


Rhodes. Silver hemidrachm, c. 408-394 BC. Bare head of Helios facing slightly right / Rose with bud, R-O across. 12 mm, 1.78 g. ref: SNGCop 725. #CG2178: $175
SOLD
Ephesos (Ephesus), Ionia, c. 5th century BC. Silver hemidrachm. Bee, E-F / Quadrapartite incuse square. 12 mm, 1.57 g. ref: SNG Copenhagen 207; Dewing 2268 var. Lustrous surfaces, Good VF with nice bee! ex-CNG. #CG2184: $199
SOLD

Kings of Syria. Demetrius I, 162 – 150 BC. AR Tetradrachm, Dated '159,' 154-153 BC. Antioch mint. His diademed head rt., fillet border. / BASILEOS DEMITRIOY SOTEROS, Tyche seated lt., holding sceptre and cornucopiae, control mark in lt. field. 32x28 mm, 16.76 g. ref: Spaer 1256. VF. Fantastic piece! #GV0609x2: $375
SOLD???
Ancient Greece. Illyria, Dyrrhachium. Silver drachm struck after 229 BC. Cow suckling calf, ZENWN, eagle above / Double stellate 'temple door' pattern, Greek around. 17.5 mm, 3.26 g. VF+. Extremely nice! #25313x2: $125 SOLD
Moesia, istrus. 400-350 BC. Silver drachm. Two male heads facing, the rt. inverted. / Eagle flying lt., attacking a dolphin with its talons, AG below. 18 mm, 5.45g. ref: BMC 6; SNG BM 249; Pick 417. VF, nice metal. #mtp499: $250 SOLD
Greece. Lydia, Tralleis. Silver tetradrachm struck 166-67 BC. Dion, magistrate. Bow case with serpents entwined around; DION above, PAL to left, herm to right / Cista mystica with serpent, all within ivy wreath. ref: SNG von Aulock 3259; SNG Copenhagen 657v. 12.63 grams, 26 mm and thick! #18391: $399
SOLD
Ancient Greece. Pergamon, Mysia, c. 166-67 BC. Silver cistophoric tetradrachm, struck 123-104 BC. Cista mystica with serpent; all within ivy wreath / Bow case with serpents; ME above, thyrsos to right. 26 mm, 12.58 g. Kleiner, Hoard 18. VF, with stunning detail, and nice cabinet tone. #CG2061: $425 SOLD
Peloponnesus, Arcadian League, 280-234 BC. Silver triobol. Laureate head of Zeus left / Naked Pan seated l. on rock, rt. hand raised, holding lagobolon in left, before him eagle flying left, Delta to rt. NIce VF, bluish toning. ref: BM-78v, Sear-2690. 14 mm, 2.11 grams. Beautiful! #68184: $225 SOLD
Seleucid Kings of Syria. Philip I Philadelphos, 93-83 BC. A contemporary and partner king to Julius Caesar of Rome. Large silver tetradrachm. Diademed head of Philip rt. within filleted border / Zeus seated left, holding Nike with wreath and scepter. BASILEWS FILIPPOU EPIFANOU FILADELFOU; AR monogram below left. 27 mm, 15.56 grams, thick and chunky! An outstanding portrait. #20827: $250 SOLD
The Healing Center of the Ancient World.
Pergamon, Mysia, Ancient Greece, c. 166-67 BC. Silver cistophoric tetradrachm, struck 190-133 BC. Cista mystica with half-open lid, from which a serpent issues, all within ivy wreath / Two coiled serpents with heads erect, between them a bow case, ornamented with an aplustre, containing a strung bow, in field to right a serpent-entwined staff of Aesklepius; PER monogram to left, AP monogram above. 25.5 mm, 12.57 g. ref: Mionnet S5, 850; BMC 106; cf Sear 3947-3950. Stunning detail! #CG2074: $425
SOLD
Ancient Greece. Larissa, Thessaly, c. 356-342 BC. Silver drachm. Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left, hair in ampyx / Horse standing right, preparing to lie down. 18 mm, 5.97 g. ref: Lorber, Hoard, Group L-III; BCD Thessaly II 325. Good VF. ex-CNG. A magnificent example! #NAV019: $750 SOLD
Ancient Greece. Corinth, c. 375-300 BC. Silver stater. Pegasus flying left / Helmeted head of Athena left; D-I flanking neck truncation; behind, Artemis running right, holding torch (only torch flames and top of her head visible). 18.5 mm, 8.37 g. ref: Ravel 1081; Pegasi 457; BCD Corinth 133. VF, toned, a few deposits. Quite nice! ex-CNG. #NAV021: $750 SOLD
Ancient Greece. Akarnania, Anaktorion, c. 345-300 BC. Silver stater. Pegasos (Pegasus) flying left; AN monogram below / Helmeted head of Athena left; API before, DW and flaming altar behind. Die break behind Pegasos' wing. 21mm. 8.24g. ref: Pegasi II 58. ex-Tom Cederlind. Beautiful! #CG2271: $699 SOLD
Macedon, Greece, 158-149 BC. Large silver tetradrachm minted under Roman occupation, Amphipolis mint. Diademed head of Artemis right with bow and quiver over shoulder in the center of a Macedonian shield / MAKEDONWN PRWTHS, club of Herakles within oak wreath; thunderbolt to left, monograms above and below. Big 31 mm, 16.49 g. ref: Seaby-1386, SNG Cop 1314. Dark gray tone. Incredible detail! ex-CNG. #CG2262: $750 SOLD
Istros, Thrace, c. 400-350 BC. Silver Drachm. Two facing male heads, the left inverted / Sea-eagle standing left on dolphin, Greek: ISTRH above; FU below. 16.5 mm, 5.37 g. ref: AMNG 425; Canarache 179 and 238. Gorgeous detail, much better than this horrible, washed-out photo! #CG2328: $250 SOLD
Ancient Greece. Thasos, Thrace. Silver Tetradrachm, struck after 148 BC. Head of Dionysus right, crowned with vines / Herakles standing facing, naked, head left, holding club and lion skin, HRAKLEOUS to right, SWTHROS left, QASIWN below. ref: Sear SG#1759. 30 mm, 16.83g. Gorgeous detail, nice cabinet tone. ex-Tom Cederlind. #CG2272: $450 SOLD
Ancient Greece. Larissa, Thessaly. Silver drachm struck c. 340 BC. Head of nymph Larissa 3/4 facing to the left / Horse grazing right, LARIS AIWN around. 19 mm, 5.75 g. ref: Dewing 1396. Excellent detail, lovely cabinet tone. Purchased in Los Angeles in the mid 1960's. A beauty! #CG2008: $475 SOLD
Thrace, Maronea, c. 400 - 350 BC. Clump of 5 Greek bronze coins in their original matrix. Each coin originally depicted a prancing horse on the obverse and a linear square containing a vine branch with a bunch of grapes on the reverse. Cf. BMC 66-67 for types. Coins average 14mm in diameter. Measures 29 mm (1 1/8') across, weighs 23.79 grams. ex-Los Angeles, CA coll. #AG2022-1: $325 SOLD
Ancient Greece, c. 6th-4th century BC. Cast bronze Arrowhead MONEY! Made to imitate an arrowhead, but used as currency.
Rare early form of coinage! 33 mm (1 5/16'), olive-green patina, earthen deposits. #WP2354: $125
SOLD
The Healing Center of the Ancient World.
Pergamon, Mysia, Ancient Greece, c. 190-133 BC. Large silver cistophoric tetradrachm, struck c. 166-67 BC. Cista mystica with half-open lid, from which a serpent issues, all within ivy wreath / Two coiled serpents with heads erect, between them a bow case, ornamented with an aplustre, containing a strung bow, in field to right a serpent-entwined staff of Aesklepius; monogram to left, AP monogram above. ref: Sear 3948. Set into stunning custom .925 silver bezel, total diameter 33 mm (1 1/4'), weighs 22.63 grams total. Coin ex-Frank S. Robinson, Albany, NY. An EF coin, superb detail! #CG2388: $699
SOLD
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  • Coin (tetradrachm) of Athens

    Unknown2.5 cm, 17.2 g (1 in., 0.0379 lb.)2015.5

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Tetradrachm

Not on view due to temporary Getty closure

Coin (tetradrachm) of Athens

Unknown

Greek

Athens, Greece (Place Created)

near ancient Bostra, Hauran, Jordan (Place Found)

Greek Tetradrachm

475–465 B.C.

Silver

2015.5

2.5 cm, 17.2 g (1 in., 0.0379 lb.)

Object Description

The obverse of this coin shows a head of Athena in right profile, wearing a crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves above the visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl. Her hair sweeps across her forehead in two loops of parallel strands and is visible beneath the helmet's neck guard. She has an archaic smile and a frontal almond-shaped eye, an anachronistic style preferred for this coin type. The design goes to the very edge of the coin, partially cutting off Athena's chin.

On the reverse, an owl stands to the right, its head turned to the front and tilted slightly. Its wing and three tail feathers are clearly delineated in high detail. There is a two-leafed olive sprig in the top left corner and a crescent, possibly a waning moon, just above the owl's wing. The inscription, ΑΘΕ, located in the bottom right, is an abbreviation of ATHENAION, 'of the Athenians.' The owl is struck in high relief and framed on all four sides by the shape of the die.

Athenian 'Owls,' as they were called, were minted in Athens for over four hundred years, beginning in the 510s B.C. Although the style evolved, the coins retained the same basic design of Athena on the obverse and her patron owl on the reverse.

This coin is one of ten Athenian tetradrachms found in a hoard of coins, ingots, and jewelry discovered in 1967 on the Jordanian-Syrian border in the region of Hauran (near the ancient city of Bostra). The hoard contained coins from over twenty mints, the majority from four areas: Athens (31), Cyprus (21), southwest Asia Minor (15) and the Thrace-Macedonian area (13). The distribution and style of the Athenian coins date the hoard's burial to around 445 B.C. The Jordan hoard, and other examples of Greek coin hoards, speak to the circulation of Greek coins in the Near East and Egypt to be used as bullion.

Provenance
Provenance

Found: near ancient Bostra, Hauran, Jordan (first recorded in Kraay and Moorey 1968)

Hesperia Art (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Private Collection [Canada]

Private Collection, sold on consignment from a Canadian collection through Frederick S. Knobloch, 1969.

Private Collection [sold, Leu Numismatik AG, May 21, 1996, lot 167.]

MoneyMuseum [sold, Triton XVIII, Classical Numismatic Group, Inc., New York, January 6, 2015, lot 510, to the J. Paul Getty Museum.]

Bibliography
Bibliography

Hesperia Art, Philadelphia. Bulletin XL/XLI. n.d, lot 47, fig. 47 obv., 48 rev.

Tetradrachm Owl

Tetradrachm

Kraay, C.M. and P.S.R. Moorey, 'Two fifth century hoards from the Near East.' Revue numismatique, 6th ser., 10 (1968), pp. 181-235, no. 43, pl. 20.

Knobloch, Frederick S. Ancient Coins: Fixed Price List (New York: n.p., April 1969), p. 23, fig. C.12.

Starr, Chester. Athenian coinage 480-449 BC (London: Clarendon Press, 1970), Group V.B, Series 3, 189 (O162/R178).

Tetradrachm Owl

Thompson, Margaret, et al. An Inventory of Greek Coin Hoards (New York: Published for the International Numismatic Commission by the American Numismatic Society, 1973), no. 1482, pp. 202-203.

Leu Numismatik AG, Zürich. Antike Münzen: Auktion 65. May 21-22, 1996, lot 167, ill.

Sunflower Foundation. Drachme, Dirhem, Taler, Pfund: Geld Und Währungen in der Geschichte : Von den Anfängen bis zum EURO : Eine Auswahl aus dem Moneymuseum.com. (Zürich: Sunflower Foundation, 2002), pp. 13-14, ill.

MoneyMuseum and Ursula Kampmann. Drachme, Dirhem, Taler, Pfund: Geld und Währungen in der Geschichte : von den Anfängen bis zum Euro. (Zürich: Sunflower Foundation/MoneyMuseum, 2010), pp. 7, 12-14, ill.

Classical Numismatic Group, Inc., New York, Triton XVIII. January 6-7, 2015, p. 191, lot 510, ill.

Tetradrachm Pronunciation

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Tetradrachm

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