Artwork Page for Stater: Head of Athena (obverse); Lion (reverse)

Details / Information for Stater: Head of Athena (obverse); Lion (reverse)

Stater: Head of Athena (obverse); Lion (reverse)

c. 340–334 BC

Greek, minted at Hyele

(South Italy)
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Medium
silver
Measurements
Diameter: 1.9 cm (3/4 in.)
Weight: 7.581 g (0.27 oz)
Credit Line
Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust 1917.996
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
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Did You Know?

Nearly worn away above the lion are the remains of a flying owl.

Description

The lion, king of the beasts and an animal associated with regal and heroic power, featured prominently on the coinage of many ancient Greek city-states. Artists placed the lion in a variety of poses, sometimes including the whole body, at other times the foreparts or just the head. Although it may once have roamed nearby, for many Greeks the lion was a monster nearly as exotic as the Chimaera, of which it formed a part, together with a goat head and snake-headed tail.
Two sides of a silver coin feature classical figures and Greek text. On the left, Athena is shown in profile facing left, wearing a crested helmet. On the right, a lion crouches toward the right with its head turned back toward the left. A small winged insect appears above the lion, and a line of Greek text is inscribed below. The silver surfaces have irregular edges and scattered areas of dark patina.

Stater: Head of Athena (obverse); Lion (reverse)

c. 340–334 BC

Greek, minted at Hyele (South Italy)

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