Artwork Page for Stater: Head of Bearded Herakles (obverse); Horse (reverse)

Details / Information for Stater: Head of Bearded Herakles (obverse); Horse (reverse)

Stater: Head of Bearded Herakles (obverse); Horse (reverse)

389–369 BCE

Greek, Macedonian, probably minted at Pella (Macedonia), reign of Amyntas III

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Medium
silver
Measurements
Diameter: 2.1 cm (13/16 in.)
Weight: 7.97 g (0.28 oz.)
Credit Line
Gift of J. H. Wade 1916.990
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

Amyntas III was the father of Philip II and grandfather of Alexander III (the Great).

Description

An older, bearded Herakles wears his lion-skin on the obverse of this coin, surrounded by a beaded border. On the reverse, a horse stands within an incuse square, where the inscription ΑΜΥΝ ΤΑ identifies King Amyntas III as ruler. The pairing of head and horse extends back to the earlier Macedonian king Archelaus (413-399 BC), though a young male head sometimes takes the place of Herakles.
A horizontal arrangement of two silver coin faces depicts a bearded head and a horse. Left, the profile of Herakles faces our right, wearing a lion skin with thick curls. Right, a horse stands in profile within a shallow rectangular frame, facing our right with its front right leg raised. Above, Greek letters read "MYN," while "TA" is inscribed vertically along the right. Both images sit against a neutral, light background.

Stater: Head of Bearded Herakles (obverse); Horse (reverse)

389–369 BCE

Greek, Macedonian, probably minted at Pella (Macedonia), reign of Amyntas III

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