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Both sides of an irregularly shaped silver-gray coin with relief decoration on each side.　

On the side of the coin on the left is a man standing, seen from the back in three quarters view facing left, nude except for a lion skin draped over left arm, his left hand extended and holding one head of a multi headed serpent, which he strikes at with club held above in his right hand; below, a crab between his legs. The other side of the coin depicts a bull walking to the left with head turned slightly to the right.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1.1965.2078
Title
Stater of Phaistos
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
325 - 300 BCE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Crete, Phaistos (Crete)
Period
Hellenistic period, Early
Culture
Greek
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/149008

Location

Location
Level 3, Room 3400, Ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Art, Ancient Greece in Black and Orange
View this object's location on our interactive map

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Silver
Metal
AR
Technique
Struck
Dimensions
11.14 g
Die Axis
3
Denomination
stater

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
D.M.Robinson Collection; bought from Feuardent. 8 July 1919, 406 (Ready Collection)

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
Le Rider p.95, 58 (this coin)

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
1.1965.2078
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obverse: Herakles standing seen from the back in three quarter view, brandishing club in r. hand, the lion's skin on his left arm, fighting the Hydra of Lerna.
Reverse: Bull walking to l.

Exhibition History

  • 32Q: 3400 Greek, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 11/16/2014 - 01/01/2050

Subjects and Contexts

  • Ancient Coins

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