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Greek

Four-drachma coin (tetradrachm), 323-285 BCE

Now On View

Description

Maker

  • Unknown

Culture

Greek

Title

Four-drachma coin (tetradrachm)

Year

323-285 BCE

Medium

Silver

Materials/Techniques

Materials

  • silver

Dimensions

Weight: 14.3 g

Type

  • Coins

Credit

Museum Appropriation Fund

Object Number

40.015.117

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Ancient Greek and Roman Galleries

Ptolemy I Soter, the first of the Macedonian kings of Egypt, was a general of Alexander the Great who distinguished himself in his martial and administrative organization of Egypt after the death of his commander. This coin is distinctive in the realism shown in the face of the ruler. Ptolemy’s humanity is emphasized by the shadows and sinews of his portrait. The eyes are sunken, the chin protruding, and the face angular. Around his neck he wears an aegis, or religious collar, similar to that of Zeus.

Use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). This object is Four-drachma coin (tetradrachm) with the accession number of 40.015.117. To request high-resolution files or new photography, please send an email to imagerequest@risd.edu and include your name and the object's accession number.

Feedback

We view our online collection as a living documents, and our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you have additional information or have spotted an error, please send feedback to curatorial@risd.edu.

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