Tetradrachm: Quadriga (obverse); Head of Arethousa (Cleveland Museum of Art 1916.980)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 430–420 BCE
The rightmost horse of a chariot team dominates the obverse of this coin, while the other three are suggested only by contours. On the reverse, four dolphins should surround Arethousa, but poor positioning during the striking process has left off one and most of another. The lumps around the horses’ front legs suggest a die defect. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1916.980: Tetradrachm: Quadriga (obverse); Head of Arethousa (reverse), c. 430–420 BCE. Greek, minted at Syracuse (Sicily). Silver; diameter: 2.4 cm (15/16 in.). Inscribed: ΣΥΡΑΚ[ΟΣΙΟ]Ν (Of the Syracusans). Details are those of this museum object; how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 3
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Arethousa’s banded hairstyle provides remarkable contemporaneous evidence of ancient Greek women’s fashions.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- silver
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 2.4 cm (15/16 in.)
- Measurements
- Diameter: 2.4 cm (15/16 in.)
- Material and technique
- silver
Design
- Inscription
- ΣΥΡΑΚ[ΟΣΙΟ]Ν (Of the Syracusans)
Identification
- Date recorded
- c. 430–420 BCE
- Culture period
- Greek, minted at Syracuse (Sicily)
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1916.980
- Museum classification
- Coins
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: this record describes a single museum object; confirm the wider coin type and standard catalogue references (e.g. SNG, RPC, RIC) against numismatic literature.