CoinsGreek5th century BCE

Decadrachm of Akragas

409 BCE-406 BCE

Description

Obv.: Quadriga to l. driven by river-god Akragas or Helios? Below, crab; above, eagle of Zeus carrying snake; linear border; die scratches visible to upper l. Rev.: Two eagles standing l.; to r., grasshopper.

Classification

Coins

Technique

Struck

Medium

Silver

Culture

Greek

Period

Classical period, High

Century

5th century BCE

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics

Dimensions

43.31 g

Provenance

Baron Pasquale Pennisi di Santa Margherita [1], Acireale, Sicily (before 1867), by descent; to Baron Agostino Pennisi di Floristella [2], Acireale, Sicily (1931-1937 or 1938), sold; to [Jacob Hirsch, Geneva (1937 or 1938-1945)], sold; to Arthur Stone Dewing [3], Cambridge, MA (from 1945), lent; to Fogg Art Museum (from 1965) 1. Baron Pasquale Pennisi di Santa Margherita (1845-1874). The decadrachm was published as being in the Pennisi collection in Antonio Salinas, Le monete delle antiche citta di Sicilia (1867). 2. Baron Agostino Pennisi di Floristella (1890-1963). He inherited the Greek part of the family collection upon the death of his father Salvatore Pennisi in 1931. About the collection, see Erich Boehringer, Zeitschrift für Numismatik 42 (1935), pp. 252-9. 3. Arthur Stone Dewing (1880-1971). According to Dewing’s inventory card, “private purchase Dr J. Hirsch, January 13, 1945 Carolyn’s birthday [granddaughter].” A letter from Jacob Hirsch to A. S. Dewing dated January 31, 1945 states “I am sorry to say that my records are in Paris, but I must have purchased the coin in 1937 or early 1938. The present Baron Pennisi inherited the collection from his father who, in turn, inherited it from his own father. (…) comes from the grandfather of the actual owner of the collection, Baron Pasquale Pennisi…”