Drachm: Head of Herakles (obverse); Club, Bow Case (Cleveland Museum of Art 1917.993)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
387–300 BCE
One of many city-states to include the hero Herakles–here shown beardless and wearing his lion-skin–on its coinage, Erythrae lies on the Ionian coast, near the island of Chios. The reverse features the inscriptions ΕΡΥ (for Erythrae) and ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙΟΣ, likely the name of a magistrate. Also present are a small owl and kantharos (wine cup), plus the club and bow case of Herakles. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1917.993: Drachm: Head of Herakles (obverse); Club, Bow Case (reverse), 387–300 BCE. Greek, minted at Erythrai (Ionia). Silver; diameter: 2 cm (13/16 in.). Inscribed: ΕΡΥ (ERY, indicates that this coin is from Erythrai); ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙΟΣ (Dionysios). 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
The hero Herakles appears on coinage from city-states across the Greek world.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- silver
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 2 cm (13/16 in.)
- Measurements
- Diameter: 2 cm (13/16 in.)
- Material and technique
- silver
Design
- Inscriptions
- ΕΡΥ (ERY, indicates that this coin is from Erythrai); ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙΟΣ (Dionysios)
Identification
- Date recorded
- 387–300 BCE
- Culture period
- Greek, minted at Erythrai (Ionia)
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1917.993
- Published references
- "Accessions." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 4, no. 4 (1917): 64-67. Mentioned: p. 64
- 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.