Coins5th-4th century BCE

Tetradrachm of Motya (Sicily)

405-397 BCE

Description

Obverse: Head of nymph to r. copied from Kimon’s Arethusa dekadrachms, with long hair pulled up in a bun and held in a net, metal headband above forehead, wearing pendant earrings and necklace, surrounded by four dolphins. No legend. Linear circle. Reverse: crab. No legend.

Classification

Coins

Technique

Struck

Medium

Silver

Period

Classical period, High

Century

5th-4th century BCE

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics

Dimensions

17.52 g

Provenance

[Monnaies et Médailles, S.A. Bâle, Vente Publique 43, Basel,12/13 novembre, 1970 n. 40]. [Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 54, Zurich, 24 March 2010 lot 44]. [Gemini, Numismatic Auction XII, New York, Sunday, January 11, 2015 lot 38], sold through [B. & H. Kriendler]; to Harvard Art Museums, 2015.