1 Decadrachm, Syracuse, Sicily, Late 5th Century BCE
date: label: date made
content: late 5th century BCE
name: label: engraver
content: Euainetos
notes: label: Description
content: In the late 5th century in Syracuse, Greece, coin engraving was a master craft. This decadrachm was one of the largest denominations of silver coins minted in ancient Greece, which created more room for master engravers to display their artistic abilities. Engravers were very proud of the dies that they struck, and would often sign their coins just like artists sign their own works of art today. One such engraver during this time period, Kimon, is credited with designing this particular engraving. The reason that this specific coin is unsigned is unclear, though perhaps Kimon was dissatisfied with the end product, or the coin was struck by an apprentice closely copying the master engraver’s work.
label: Description
content: The reverse of this decadrachm shows the head of the nymph Arethusa, daughter of Nereus, also known as “The Waterer.” In Greek mythology, Arethusa is said to have fled from her home in the mythical utopia of Arcadia through a below ground stream. In the myth, she emerges as a fresh water fountain on the Island of Ortygia in Syracuse, Sicily. Arethusa's head is surrounded by dolphins. The obverse of the coin shows a man driving a carriage of four horses. Above him, Nike, the goddess of victory, crowns him victor. One interpretation of this coin is that it commemorates a battle victory over Athens during the Peloponnesian War in 413 B.C.
place: label: place made
content: Italy: Sicily, Syracuse
label: country
content: Italy
label: city
content: United States: New York, Syracuse
label: political area
content: Italy: Sicily, Sicily
label: province
content: Italy: Sicily, Sicily
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection
label: See more items in
content: Coins, Currency and Medals
label: Exhibition
content: Value of Money
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Dr. F. Lewis Bartlett
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: NU.77.32.02
label: accession number
content: 1978.0601
label: catalog number
content: 77.32.02
objectType: label: Object Name
content: coin
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: silver (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: .75 cm x 3.6 cm; 9/32 in x 1 13/32 in