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

Within the circle on the left is a man standing on a four-horse drawn vehicle facing right. He is wearing flowing clothing and holding a long stick in his right hand, in his left hand are the reins of the horses. Above the horses on the right is a woman with wings flying. She is also wearing flowing clothing; both of her hands are holding a wreath crowning one of the horse’s heads. Below the horse’s hooves is a line under which is a small lion. Small dots surround the entire border. The circle on the right depicts the head of a woman facing right. Her hair is tied back with long curly tendrils hanging down. Her ear is pierced with a hoop earring and a wreath of leaves sits atop her head. A circle of dolphins surrounds her head along with Greek characters spelling S Y R A K O S I O N .

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1972.213
Title
Tetradrachm of Syracuse
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
c. 475 BCE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Syracuse (Sicily)
Period
Classical period, Early
Culture
Greek
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/195618

Location

Location
Level 3, Room 3200, Ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Art, Classical Sculpture
View this object's location on our interactive map

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Silver
Metal
AR
Technique
Struck
Dimensions
17.39 g
Die Axis
7
Denomination
tetradrachm
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Reverse Inscription: SYRAKOSION

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
B.382

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Frederick M. Watkins
Accession Year
1972
Object Number
1972.213
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
obverse: Quadriga crowned by Victory; lion in exergue. Border of dots.
reverse: SYRAKOSION; head of Artemis-Arethusa surrounded by dolphins.

Publication History

  • The Frederick M. Watkins Collection, exh. cat., Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA, 1973)

Exhibition History

  • The Frederick M. Watkins Collection, Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, 01/31/1973 - 03/14/1973
  • 32Q: 3200 West Arcade, 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