Tridrachm of Samos
Coin (Tetradrachm)
ca. 394-365 BC (made)
ca. 394-365 BC (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This ancient Greek coin is a tridrachm of Samos. A drachm is the basic monetary unit in ancient Greece (and still today), originating from the word 'dragma', which means 'handful'. A drachm is a medium sized coin, weighing around 4 grams and with a diameter of about 1.6 to 1.9 cm. Greek coins were made by a crude form of striking, the rough blank of metal being placed between two dies engraved with the required image and the whole assemblage being hit with a hammer, thus obverse and reverse were impressed simultaneously, sometimes with uneven results.
The coins bequeathed to the V&A by George Salting include examples of silver coins from Syracuse of the 4th century BC, a set of gold imperial coins of Rome, and some fine specimens of bronze denarii of the Roman Empire.
The coins bequeathed to the V&A by George Salting include examples of silver coins from Syracuse of the 4th century BC, a set of gold imperial coins of Rome, and some fine specimens of bronze denarii of the Roman Empire.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Tridrachm of Samos (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Silver |
Brief description | Coin, tridrachm of Samos, silver, infant Hercules, Greek, 394-365 BC |
Physical description | Obverse: Greek inscription. Infant Heracles, strangling two serpents, around his body crepundia. Reverse: Greek inscription. Lion's scalp. |
Dimensions |
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Object history | From the Salting bequest. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This ancient Greek coin is a tridrachm of Samos. A drachm is the basic monetary unit in ancient Greece (and still today), originating from the word 'dragma', which means 'handful'. A drachm is a medium sized coin, weighing around 4 grams and with a diameter of about 1.6 to 1.9 cm. Greek coins were made by a crude form of striking, the rough blank of metal being placed between two dies engraved with the required image and the whole assemblage being hit with a hammer, thus obverse and reverse were impressed simultaneously, sometimes with uneven results. The coins bequeathed to the V&A by George Salting include examples of silver coins from Syracuse of the 4th century BC, a set of gold imperial coins of Rome, and some fine specimens of bronze denarii of the Roman Empire. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | A.651-1910 |
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Record created | June 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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