Head of Antiochus V
Coin (Tetradrachm)
2nd century BC (made)
2nd century BC (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ancient Greek coin is a tetradrachm of Antiochus V, Eupator, King of Syria from ca. 170 BC. 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. A Tetradrachme (four-drachm) is a large silver coin, which weighs around 17 grams and has a diameter of a bout 2.4 to 3 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 | Head of Antiochus V (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Silver |
| Brief description | Coin, tetradrachm of Antiochus V, silver, head of Antiochus V / Zeus, Greek, 2nd century BC |
| Physical description | Obverse: Head of Antiochus V, Eupator, diademed. Reverse: Greek Inscription. Zeus naked to waist, seated on throne without back. He holds in right Nike and leans with left on sceptre. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | From the Salting bequest. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This ancient Greek coin is a tetradrachm of Antiochus V, Eupator, King of Syria from ca. 170 BC. 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. A Tetradrachme (four-drachm) is a large silver coin, which weighs around 17 grams and has a diameter of a bout 2.4 to 3 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.659-1910 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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