Stater: Head of Athena (obverse); Nike (reverse)
c. 320–317 BC
Maker Unknown
Greek and Roman Art
Stater: Head of Athena (obverse); Nike (reverse), c. 320–317 BC. Greek, Macedonian, minted at Salamis (Cyprus). Gold; diameter: 1.9 cm (3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of J. H. Wade 1916.979 As the forces of Alexander III [the Great] advanced into Asia, the city-state of Salamis, on the island of Cyprus, voluntarily surrendered itself and its mint. Salamis began producing Macedonian-style coinage, adopting a helmeted Athena on the obverse and a winged Nike offering a laurel wreath on the reverse. The rudder in the left field is the distinguishing symbol of Salamis, a nod to the city’s longstanding maritime prominence. Athena appears off-center on this coin’s obverse due to an error in the minting process.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Coins
- Formatted Medium
- gold
- Medium
- gold
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 1.9 cm (3/4 in.)
- Inscribed
- Inscription: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Translation: Of Alexander Remark: Reverse
- Departments
- Greek and Roman Art
- Accession Number
- 1916.979
- Credit Line
- Gift of J. H. Wade
- Exhibitions
- Mirrors: Art and Symbol
- Rights Statement
- CC0
Have a concern, a correction, or something to add?
