Both sides of an irregularly shaped silver-gray coin with relief decoration on each side.　
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

On the side of the coin on the left is the head of a man facing right, wearing the skin from an elephant's head, trunk turned up and tusks protruding out, small dots surround the border. The other side of the coin depicts a man seated on a throne facing left, right arm extended holding an eagle, left hand holding a staff; below, a thunderbolt; Along the right border, the Greek characters: A L E X A N D R O Y. Below the throne, the Greek characters: R Y.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1.1965.2733
People
Ptolemy I Soter, Greek (r. 323-283 BCE)
Title
Tetradrachm of Ptolemy I as Satrap, Alexandria
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
316-315 BCE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Africa, Memphis (Egypt)
Period
Ptolemaic period
Culture
Greek
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/191213

Location

Location
Level 3, Room 3440, Ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Art, Ancient Middle Eastern Art in the Service of Kings
View this object's location on our interactive map

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Silver
Metal
AR
Technique
Struck
Dimensions
16 g
Die Axis
10
Denomination
tetradrachm
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Reverse Inscription: ALEXANDROY; RY

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Joseph Hirsch, 32, 14 Sept. 1912, 593.

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
Coins of the Ptolemaic Empire I.1, 35a; Svoronos 20; Zervos pl. 3, 15 (this coin); SNG Cop 11

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Loan from the Trustees of the Arthur Stone Dewing Greek Numismatic Foundation
Object Number
1.1965.2733
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obv.: Head of Alexander in elephant skin r.; dotted border.
Rev.: Zeus seated l. on throne, holding eagle r. and scepter l.; to l., thunderbolt; below throne, rho upsilon.

Exhibition History

  • Gods in Color: Painted Sculpture of Classical Antiquity, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 09/22/2007 - 01/20/2008
  • Re-View: S422 Ancient & Byzantine Art & Numismatics, Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, 04/12/2008 - 06/18/2011
  • 32Q: 3440 Middle East, Harvard Art Museums, 11/16/2014 - 01/01/2050

Subjects and Contexts

  • Ancient Coins

Related Digital Tours

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu