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Dec 8, 2009
Dec 8, 2009
Hecte: Head of Omphale (obverse); Incuse Square (reverse)
Hecte: Head of Omphale (obverse); Incuse Square (reverse)
387–326 BC
Part of a set. See all set records
Greek, minted at Phokaia
(Ionia)
Electrum (gold-silver alloy)
Diameter: 0.9 cm (3/8 in.)
Weight: 2.592 g (0.09 oz.)
Die axis: 6
Gift of J. H. Wade 1916.973
Location
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; Incuse Square (reverse)&media=https%3A//piction.clevelandart.org/cma/ump.di%3Fe%3DC67C57D09204A4FC54769DAD15BD5F80D328173B2D1449A4EDEDBC76FA8E7DDA%26s%3D24247294%26se%3D450972956%26v%3D1%26f%3D%255Cd8450%255Cu214184506%255C1916.973_o10.jpg){kind=small}
Did you know?
The Lydian queen Omphale wears the lion skin of Herakles, whom she enslaved.
Description
This very small electrum coin shows the Lydian queen Omphale on the obverse. She can be distinguished from Herakles, whose lion-skin she wears, by her earring. Also visible, over her shoulder, is the hero’s club, while beneath her swims a small seal—phôkê in Greek, a punning reference to Phokaia, where the coin was made. The reverse features a much simpler design, a quartered incuse square.
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