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.
In Athens it replaced the earlier "heraldic" type of didrachms and it was in wide circulation from c. 510 to c. 38 BC.[2]
An Athenian tetradrachm from after 499 BC, showing the head of Athena and the owl
The transition from didrachms to tetradrachms occurred during c. 525–510 BC; the abandonment of the "heraldic"-type didrachms and the Archaic tetradrachms (early "owls") of the polis of Athens apparently took place shortly after the Battle of Salamis, 480 BC. This transition is supported by the discovery of contemporary coin hoards, and more particularly of a coin hoard found on the Acropolis in 1886. [citation needed]
The Athenian tetradrachm was widely used in transactions throughout the ancient Greek world, including in cities politically unfriendly to Athens.[2] Athens had silver mines in state ownership, which provided the bullion. Most well known were the silver mines of Laurium in Athenian countryside.[3] The Athenian tetradrachm was stamped with the head of Athena on the obverse, and on the reverse the image of the owl of Athena, the iconographic symbol of the Athenian polis, with a sprig of olive and a crescent for the moon. According to Philochorus, it was known as glaux (γλαύξ, 'little owl')[4] throughout the ancient world[5] and "owl" in present-day English language numismatics.[6] The design was kept essentially unchanged for over two centuries, by which time it had become stylistically archaic. To differentiate their currency from the rival coinage of Aegina using the Aeginetic stater of about 12.3 grams, Athens minted its tetradrachm based on the "Attic" standard of 4.3 grams per drachma. The vast number of "owls-tetradrachms" available those days mainly from the silver mines of Laurium financed the several achievements of Athens, such as the reconstruction of the Acropolis and building the Parthenon, as well as many wars, including the Peloponnesian War.
^Philochorus: Scholion to Aristophanes, Birds 1106.
^Kraay, C.M. The archaic owls of Athens: classification and chronology.
^Otto Mørkholm (31 May 1991). Early Hellenistic Coinage from the Accession of Alexander to the Peace of Apamaea (336–188 BC). Cambridge University Press. p. 8. ISBN978-0-521-39504-5.
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Tetradrachms from Sicily, Syracuse - The Demareteion Tetradrachm
January 01, 1970
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The tetradrachm Greek tetradraxmon translit tetradrachmon 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 Tetradrachm struck at the Temnos mint c 188 170 BC showing Alexander the Great in the guise of Heracles and Zeus seated 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 Contents 1 In Athens 2 In other polities 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksIn Athens editIn Athens it replaced the earlier heraldic type of didrachms and it was in wide circulation from c 510 to c 38 BC 2 nbsp An Athenian tetradrachm from after 499 BC showing the head of Athena and the owl The transition from didrachms to tetradrachms occurred during c 525 510 BC the abandonment of the heraldic type didrachms and the Archaic tetradrachms early owls of the polis of Athens apparently took place shortly after the Battle of Salamis 480 BC This transition is supported by the discovery of contemporary coin hoards and more particularly of a coin hoard found on the Acropolis in 1886 citation needed The Athenian tetradrachm was widely used in transactions throughout the ancient Greek world including in cities politically unfriendly to Athens 2 Athens had silver mines in state ownership which provided the bullion Most well known were the silver mines of Laurium in Athenian countryside 3 The Athenian tetradrachm was stamped with the head of Athena on the obverse and on the reverse the image of the owl of Athena the iconographic symbol of the Athenian polis with a sprig of olive and a crescent for the moon According to Philochorus it was known as glaux glay3 little owl 4 throughout the ancient world 5 and owl in present day English language numismatics 6 The design was kept essentially unchanged for over two centuries by which time it had become stylistically archaic To differentiate their currency from the rival coinage of Aegina using the Aeginetic stater of about 12 3 grams Athens minted its tetradrachm based on the Attic standard of 4 3 grams per drachma The vast number of owls tetradrachms available those days mainly from the silver mines of Laurium financed the several achievements of Athens such as the reconstruction of the Acropolis and building the Parthenon as well as many wars including the Peloponnesian War In other polities editThe tetradrachm s use as a currency was soon adopted by many other city states of the ancient Greece Asia Minor Magna Grecia and other Greek colonial cities throughout the Mediterranean Sea With the armies of Alexander the Great it spread to other Greek influenced areas of Asia Tetradrachms were common as trade coins 7 nbsp Tetradrachm from Bactria under the Kushan Empire c 100 300 AD nbsp Tetradrachm of Olympia nbsp Tetradrachm of Sparta nbsp Tetradrachm of Abdera nbsp Tetradrachm of Troy nbsp Tetradrachm of Kyme nbsp Tetradrachm of Rhegion nbsp Tetradrachm of Naxos nbsp Tetradrachm of Aetna 5th C BC nbsp Tetradrachm of Alexander the Great nbsp Tetradrachm of Cleopatra TheaSee also editCoin Coin in the fish s mouth List of historical currencies StaterReferences edit nbsp Money portal nbsp Numismatics portal Tetradrachm Merriam Webster Retrieved 2008 01 20 a b Androulakis Yiannis History of the Greek coins Fleur de Coin Retrieved 2008 01 20 Aristotle Athenian Constitution 22 7 glay3 Liddell amp Scott Philochorus Scholion to Aristophanes Birds 1106 Kraay C M The archaic owls of Athens classification and chronology Otto Morkholm 31 May 1991 Early Hellenistic Coinage from the Accession of Alexander to the Peace of Apamaea 336 188 BC Cambridge University Press p 8 ISBN 978 0 521 39504 5 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tetradrachm nbsp Look up tetradrachm in Wiktionary the free dictionary Pictures of Athenian tetradrachms archive Tetradrachms from Sicily Syracuse The Demareteion Tetradrachm Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tetradrachm amp oldid 1211947025, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
