Tetradrachm struck at the Temnos mint c. 188–170 BC, showing Alexander the Great in the guise of Heracles and Zeus seated
The tetradrachm (Greek: τετράδραχμον, translit. tetrádrachmon) was a large silver coin that originated in Ancient Greece. It was nominally equivalent to four drachmae.[1] Over time the tetradrachm effectively became the standard coin of the Antiquity, spreading well beyond the borders of the Greek World. As a result, tetradrachms were minted in vast quantities by various polities in many weight and fineness standards, though the Athens-derived Attic standard of about 17.2 grams was the most common.
Because of their large size, tetradrachms were often used by various states or rulers to advertise themselves or to deliver political messages. Popularity of the tetradrachm outlived the political independence of the Greeks and it remained in wide circulation in the Mediterranean up until Crisis of the Third Century, while debased varieties persisted in India and Central Asia into early Middle Ages.
Due to their often high artistic level tetradrachms are eagerly collected in modern times, and well-preserved or rare specimens can reach considerable prices.
Tetradrachm of Abdera Tetradrachm of Troy Tetradrachm of Kyme Tetradrachm of Rhegion Tetradrachm of Naxos Tetradrachm of Aetna, 5th C. BC Tetradrachm...
Greek coins normally had distinctive names in daily use. The Athenian tetradrachm was called owl, the Aeginetic stater was called chelone, the Corinthian...
made of silver, with the main currencies being the drachm and tetradrachm. The tetradrachm, which generally weighed around 16 g, was only minted in Seleucia...
used. Donald Wiseman suggests two possibilities. They could have been tetradrachms of Tyre, usually referred to as Tyrian shekels (14 grams of 94% silver)...
the common obverse of the Athenian tetradrachms after 510 BC and according to Philochorus, the Athenian tetradrachm was known as glaux (γλαύξ, little owl)...
Tyrian shekels, tetradrachms, or tetradrachmas were coins of Tyre, which in the Roman Empire took on an unusual role as the medium of payment for the Temple...
attributes of Eirene on Roman Imperial coins. For example, the reverse of a tetradrachm of Vespasian from Alexandria, 70-71 AD, shows Eirene standing holding...
was based on a drachma of 4.3 g, but in practice the main coin was the tetradrachm of 17.2 g. Each drachma was divided into six obols of 0.72 g. It was...
Staatliche Sammlung für Ägyptische Kunst (Munich, Germany) Ancient Greek tetradrachm; 315–308 BC; diameter: 2.7 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art Ancient Greek...
Top left: Silver tetradrachm of Volusianus. From Antioch. Top right: Coin of the usurper Uranius Antoninus. From Emesa. Bottom left: Coin of Elagabalus...
of PERSIS. Vādfradād (Autophradates) II. Early-mid 2nd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.23 g, 11h). Istakhr (Persepolis) mint. Rezakhani, Khodadad...
War (398-393 BC). This coinage consisted solely of Attic weight silver tetradrachms (17.26 g), known as Series I (c. 410-390 BC), containing five separate...
the main coinage of the empire. Alexander minted gold staters, silver tetradrachms and drachims, and various fractional bronze coins. The types of these...
successor to a male Ptolemaic ruler. Various coins, such as a silver tetradrachm minted sometime after Cleopatra's marriage with Antony in 37 BC, depict...
now at Museo Pio-Clementino, Vatican Athena portrait by Eukleidas on a tetradrachm from Syracuse, Sicily c. 400 BC Mythological scene with Athena (left)...
to mint coins with both his portrait and his name. The reverse of his tetradrachms features a seated Heracles—from whom the Spartan kings claimed descent—perhaps...
Forgotten Empire: The World of Ancient Persia. pp. 258–59, fig. 454, Silver tetradrachm of Bagadates. Ashley, James R. (2004) [First published 1998]. "Appendix...
or so it can be presumed based on the representation struck on the tetradrachm coinage of Attica. Apollo rode a griffin to Hyperboria each winter, leaving...
the rule of Emperor Nero. Silver from the coins was reused for Roman tetradrachm. Denarii and aurei did not circulate in the former Ptolemaic Kingdom...
tetradrachms. Coins of the Macedonians By Martin Price Page 27 Media related to Athena Alkidemos at Wikimedia Commons Antigonos Gonatas Tetradrachm v...
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