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

On the side of the coin on the left is a woman's head facing left, hair tied up, crowned with reeds, wearing a triple pendant drop earing and pearl necklace. The other side of the coin depicts a naked man advancing right, wearing a helmet, holding a sword in right hand, a large shield in his left, the inside of the shield is decorated with an animal consisting of the body of a lion and head and wings of an eagle. Below along the ground line, a spear and arrow. Along the left border, the Greek characters: O P O N T I O N.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1.1965.1477
Title
Stater of Lokris Opuntia
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
369-338 BCE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Lokris Opuntii (Lokris)
Period
Classical period, Late
Culture
Greek
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/171155

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
12.01 g
Die Axis
4
Denomination
stater
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Reverse Inscription: OPONTION

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Gustav Philipsen [1], Copenhagen (by 1909), sold; [through Hirsch, Munich, “Philipsen sale,” November 29, 1909, lot 818]. R.G. Strickland? [2], sold; to Arthur Stone Dewing [3], Cambridge, MA (from 1940), lent; to Fogg Art Museum (from 1965)
1. Gustav Philipsen (1853-1925)
2. “R.G. Strickland estate (Sidney Noe)” according to Dewing’s inventory card.
3. Arthur Stone Dewing (1880-1971). Bought on July 25, 1940 according to Dewing’s inventory card.

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
BMC p. 4, 27

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
1.1965.1477
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obverse: Head of Persephone to r., adapted from the Arethusa type of Euainetos in Syracuse, crowned with reeds, wearing triple-drop earrings and pearled necklace.
Reversal Ajax beardless, naked, advancing to l. wearing Corinthian helmet, holding short sword in r. hand and shield decorated on the inside with a griffin; above ground line spear and arrow.

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