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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 of the left is an animal facing left, with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion; the head and wings of an eagle; and eagle's talons as its front feet, its right foreleg raised; Below, the Greek characters: A R C H. The other side of the coin depicts four indented squares.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1.1965.1250
Title
Octodrachm of Abdera
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
510-492 BCE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Abdera (Thrace)
Period
Archaic period
Culture
Greek
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/187536

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
29.39 g
Die Axis
not assignable
Denomination
octodrachm
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Obverse Inscription: beneath foreleg traces of ARCH

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Acq. Gans, 1945.

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
May 51a (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
1.1965.1250
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obv.: Griffin seated to l., with r. foreleg raised.
Rev.: Quadripartite incuse square.

Exhibition History

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

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