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Greek

Four-drachma coin (tetradrachm), ca. 420-355 BCE

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Description

Maker

Culture

Greek

Title

Four-drachma coin (tetradrachm)

Year

ca. 420-355 BCE

Medium

Silver

Materials/Techniques

Materials

Dimensions

Weight: 14.2 g

Place

Chalcidian League

Type

Credit

Museum Appropriation Fund

Object Number

40.015.34

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Ancient Greek and Roman Galleries

Depicted on this coin is a lyre, a popular instrument in the ancient world. The Greeks commemorated births, harvests, banquets, and deaths with music. Poetry was written to have musical accompaniment, musical competitions were held during athletic contests, and musicians gained fame for their skill and compositions. This coin honors Apollo, god of the sun and music. Apollo’s representations share a repetitive yet unique nature. The sun rises every day and the beats and rhythms of music can be repeated, but no day or performance is ever the same.

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 40.015.34. 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.