Tetradrachm (Coin) Depicting the God Zeus

Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean and Byzantium

348-336 BCE, issued by King Philip II of Macedonia

Greek; minted in Pella, ancient Macedonia

Coins were an excellent way for leaders to advertise their victories whether in battle or at the Olympic Games. King Philip (reigned 359–336 BCE), father of Alexander the Great, celebrated his win in the horse races at the Olympic Games by issuing this coin, complete with the victory palm in the jockey’s hand.

Status: Currently Off View
Department: Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean and Byzantium

Artist: Ancient Greek
Title: Tetradrachm (Coin) Depicting the God Zeus
Origin: Pella
Date: 348 BCE–336 BCE
Medium: Silver
Dimensions: Diam. 2.8 cm; 13.92 g
Credit Line: Gift of William F. Dunham
Reference Number: 1920.705
IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.: https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/139862/manifest.json

Roberta Casagrande-Kim, ed., When the Greeks Ruled Egypt: From Alexander the Great to Cleopatra. Exh. cat. (New York: Institute for the Study of the Ancient World; Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2014), p. 100, cat. 96.

Art Institute of Chicago, Coin Production in the Ancient Mediterranean World, Gallery 155, 1994-1997.
Art Institute of Chicago, Ancient Art Galleries, Gallery 155, 1997 - February 6, 2012.
Art Institute of Chicago, When the Greeks Ruled: Egypt After Alexander the Great, October 31, 2013 - July 27, 2014; traveled to New York City, NY, the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, October 8, 2014 - January 4, 2015.

William F. Dunham (1857-1936), Chicago; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1920.

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