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Both sides of an irregularly shaped silver gray coin with relief decoration on each side.

Within the circle on the left is the head of a man facing left. His long hair is rolled up in the back with long curly tendrils hanging down from the side. A wreath of leaves sits on top of his head and above a circle of small dots surrounds his entire head. The circle on the right depicts a lion’s head with a large mane facing left, it’s mouth is open and tongue is sticking out. Around the head in a circle are four grains of wheat. Within the circle of grains are Greek characters spelling L E O N I N O N.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1972.132
Title
Tetradrachm of Leontinoi, Sicily
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
c. 460 BCE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Leontinoi (Sicily)
Period
Classical period, Early
Culture
Greek
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/194027

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
17.11 g
Die Axis
12
Denomination
tetradrachm
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Reverse Inscription: LEONINON

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Frederick M. Watkins
Accession Year
1972
Object Number
1972.132
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obverse: Head of Apollo with long waved hair rolled up at the back, wearing laurel wreath to l.
Reverse: Lion's head surrounded by four wheat grains

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

Subjects and Contexts

  • Ancient Coins

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