Greek Silver Coins

The following page is dedicated to Greek silver coins, arguably some of the finest types of ancient art. Sadly, superlative examples of these coins are often beyond the reach of the average collector, myself included!

SICILY, Syracuse 2nd Republic, 466-406 BC AR Tetradrachm 26mm 17.26g ca. 440 - 430 AD. Obv: Charioteer leading victorious Biga in step to the right, Nike flying over it, wreath the horses. Rev.: ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙ-ΟΝ, head of the nymph Arethusa nr, surrounded by four dolphins. Ref: Boehringer 561 (ed.); HGC 1313 Gorny & Mosch 276 lot 49 (Author's collection)

SICILY, Syracuse 2nd Republic, 466 - 406 BC AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 16.60g) Obv: Charioteer leading a biga r., which is crowned by Nike Rev: ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ, bust of Arethusa with bun r. surrounded by four dolphins. Ref: Boehringer 605; HGC 1315. Published in: C.Boehringer, SNR 64, 1985, Taf.8.86 (this coin). (Author's collection)

SICILY, Syracuse. Second Democracy. 466-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.xxg, 9h). Struck circa 450-440 BC. Charioteer driving quadriga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses; in exergue, ketos right / Head of Arethusa right, hair in band; four dolphins around. Boehringer series XVIb, 576 (V288/R392); SNG ANS 183. (Author's collection, photo courtesy of CGB auctions)

SICILY, Syracuse Second Democracy, 466-405 BC ca. 430-420 AR Tetradrachm (25 mm, 17.21g, 10h) Obv: Charioteer driving quadriga walking to right, holding reins in both hands; above, Nike flying left to crown the charioteer Rev: ΣΥΡΑΚΟ-ΣΙΩΝ Head of Arethousa to right, her hair tied with a ribbon, wearing pendant earring and simple necklace; around, four dolphins swimming right and left. Ref: Boehringer 677 (V339/R461). HGC 2, 1321 (Author's collection)

SICILY, Syracuse Second Democracy, 466-405 BC. ca. 430-420 AR Tetradrachm (26 mm, 17.33g, 1h) Obv: Charioteer driving quadriga walking to right, holding goad in his right hand and reins in his left; above, Nike flying right to crown the horses Ref: ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ Head of Arethusa to right, her hair bound in a sakkos, wearing a double spiral earring and a simple necklace; around, four dolphins swimming right. Ref: Boehringer 694 (V342/R473); ex Bertolami 4-5, lot 620 (2011) (Author's collection)

ATTICA, Athens. AR Tetradrachm ca. 505 BC 24mm 17.26g Obv.: Helmeted bust r. of Athena Rev.: Owl standing, olive branch above, AOE. Asyut 262-265 var. Seltman 345 var. Svoronos pl. 6, 17 var. (Author's collection)

ATTICA. Athens. Circa 430s BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 24 mm, 17.20 g, 1 h). Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves and palmette. Rev. AΘE Owl standing right, head facing; to left, olive sprig and crescent; all within incuse square. Kroll 8. Svoronos, Monnaies, pl. 12 passim (Author's collection)

ATTICA. Athens. Circa 430s-420s BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 25 mm, 17.24 g, 2 h). Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves and palmette. Rev. AΘE Owl standing right, head facing; to left, olive sprig and crescent; all within incuse square. Kroll 8. Svoronos, Monnaies, pls. 12-13 passim (Author's collection)

ATTICA. Athens. Ca. 440-404 BC. AR tetradrachm (25mm, 17.20 gm, 4h). Mid-mass coinage issue. Obv: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three laurel leaves and vine scroll / Rev: AΘE, owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent moon behind, all within incuse square. Ref: HGC 4, 1597. SNG Copenhagen 31-40. Kroll 8. (Author's collection)

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. 26mm, 17.21g, 7h Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31; HGC 4, 1597 (Author's collection)

ATTICA. Athens. Circa 430s BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 24 mm, 17.22 g, 10 h). Obv.: Helmeted bust r. of Athena Rev.: Owl standing, olive branch above, AOE Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597 (Author's collection)

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. 23mm, 17.27g, 1h Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31; HGC 4, 1597 (Author's collection)

ATTICA, Athens 454-404 BC. Tetradrachm AR 25mm, 17.22g. Obv.: Helmeted bust r. of Athena Rev.: Owl standing, olive branch above, AOE Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597 (Author's collection)

SICILY, Akragas Circa 480/478-470 BC. AR Didrachm (20 mm, 8.63g, 9h) Obv: AK-PA Eagle standing left with closed wings. Rev: Crab within shallow circular incuse. Ref: Westermark Group IV, 246 (O84/R167). (Author's collection)

CARIAN ISLANDS. Rhodes. Ca. 84-30 BC. AR drachm (20mm, 5h). Radiate head of Helios facing, turned slightly right, hair parted in center and swept to either side / P-O, rose in full bloom seen from above; grain left below. HGC 6, 1456 (Author's collection)

KINGDOM OF THE SELEUKIDS. Antiochus VII. Sidetes, 139-129 BC BC Drachm, Tarsus. 18.8mm 4g Head with diadem to the right Rv. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ-ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ Sandan on a horned lion to the right standing, right hand raised, in left hand a double ax, bow and quiver on his back. 4.13 g. Houghton-Lorber II, 361,2058.1 (?). SNG Lockett 3163 (Author's collection)

SICILY, Gela ca. 425-420 BC AR Tetradrachm 17.23g Obv: Charioteer driving slow quadriga left; horses crowned by Nike Rev: Forepart of man-headed bull right Ref: SNG ANS 92; HGC 2 (Author's collection)

KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Tetradrachm 30mm, 16.98g. Tarsos mint. under Philotas or Philoxenos. Herakles r, Zeus Aëtophoros seated Price 3039 (Author's collection)

KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III. 336-323 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.22g). Babylon mint Herakles r, Zeus Aëtophoros seated (Author's collection)

Seleukos I Nikator 312-281 B.C. AR Tetradrachm Head of Alexander the Great, Zeus seated with Eagle. (Author's collection)

KINGS of MACEDON Alexander III ‘the Great’ 336-323 BC; AR Tetradrachm, 35mm, 16.72g 11h Alabanda mint, year 1 = 174-173 BC Obv.: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress Rev.: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Zeus seated on low throne, holding scepter and eagle; Pegasus flying; below throne, A Ref: Price 2460 (Author's collection)

KINGS of MACEDON Alexander III ‘the Great’ 336-323 BC; AR Tetradrachm, 35mm Unknown mint Obv.: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress Rev.: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Zeus seated on low throne, holding scepter and eagle; Pegasus flying; below throne, A Ref: (Author's collection)

KINGS of ARMENIA Tigranes II ‘the Great’ 95-56 BC. AR Tetradrachm 28mm, 15.74g, 1h (struck 80-68 BC) Tigranocerta mint. Obv: Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing Armenian tiara with five peaks and emblazoned with star between two eagles; bead and reel border around Rev: Tyche of Artaxata seated to right on rock pile, holding palm branch, river god Araxes swimming to right below; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, TIΓPANOY to left, two monograms on rock; all within wreath Ref: SCADA Group 8; Kovacs 75.1; CAA 21; ACV 33 Roma 118 lot #455 (Author's collection)

ISLANDS OFF ATTICA, Aegina. Circa 480-457 BC. Stater (Silver, 22 mm, 12.17 g). Sea turtle, head in profile, with T-back design on shell. incuse with skew pattern. Meadows, Aegina, Group IIIa. (Author's collection)

ISLANDS off ATTICA, Aegina. Circa 350-338 BC. AR Drachm 19mm, 5.22g. Land tortoise; Incuse skew pattern. SNG Copenhagen 520 (Author's collection)

IONIA. Ephesos. Drachm (Circa 202-150 BC). Dioskorides, magistrate. 18mm, 4.18g Obv: E - Φ.; Bee. Rev: ΔΙΟΣΚΟΥΡΙΔΗΣ. Stag standing right before palm tree. Kinns, Attic, p. 86 (Author's collection)

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