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Artist/Maker
Unknown artist, Greek (Ancient)
Date336 B.C.E. - 323 B.C.E.
MediumSilver
DimensionsDiameter: 1 in. (2.6 cm)
Credit LineTransfer from Hamilton College Archives, Burke Library. Gift of Nathaniel Emmons Paine, Class of 1874
Object numberS2018.1.9
On view
DescriptionThis Macedonian tetradrachm depicts the head of Hercules wearing the skin of a lion on its obverse. On its reverse, Zeus is seated on a throne, holding an eagle in his right hand and a long scepter in his left. The reverse also has the inscription BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY, meaning “King Alexander,” indicating Alexander III, known better as Alexander the Great.
This coin is a part of the Paine Coin Collection. This teaching collection of 32 Greek and Roman coins was formed by John Alsop Paine (1840 – 1912), Class of 1859, who was an archaeologist with the Palestine Exploration Society and a Curator in the Department of Casts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from 1889 until 1906. The collection came to the college through John Alsop Paine’s grandson, Nathaniel Emmons Paine (1853 – 1948), Class of 1874.
Additional Details
Provenance
2018: Hamilton College (Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art), by transfer from College Archives, Burke Library;
?: Hamilton College, by gift of Nathaniel Emmons Paine (1853-1948);
?: Nathaniel Emmons Paine (1853-1948), presumably by inheritance or gift from his grandfather, John Alsop Paine (1840-1912);
?: John Alsop Paine (1840-1912), by excavation.
?: Hamilton College, by gift of Nathaniel Emmons Paine (1853-1948);
?: Nathaniel Emmons Paine (1853-1948), presumably by inheritance or gift from his grandfather, John Alsop Paine (1840-1912);
?: John Alsop Paine (1840-1912), by excavation.
Inscribed
BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY ("King Alexander") on reverse
Unknown artist, Greek (Ancient)
Date: 204 B.C.E. - 180 B.C.E.
Medium: Bronze
Object number: S2018.1.13
Unknown artist, Greek (Ancient)
Date: 305-284 B.C.E.
Medium: Silver
Object number: S2018.1.4
Unknown artist, Greek (Ancient)
Date: 490 B.C.E. - 461 B.C.E.
Medium: Silver
Object number: S2018.1.10
Unknown artist, Greek (Ancient)
Date: c. 460 B.C.E.
Medium: Silver
Object number: S2018.1.1
Unknown artist, Greek (Ancient)
Date: 400 B.C.E. - 265 B.C.E.
Medium: Silver
Object number: S2018.1.7
Unknown artist, Greek (Ancient)
Date: 500-466 B.C.E.
Medium: Silver
Object number: S2018.1.5
Unknown artist, Greek (Ancient)
Date: 317 B.C.E. - 310 B.C.E.
Medium: Silver
Object number: S2018.1.11
Unknown artist, Greek (Ancient)
Date: 400 B.C.E. - 304 B.C.E.
Medium: Silver
Object number: S2018.1.8
Unknown artist, Roman Empire
Date: 137 B.C.E. - 127 B.C.E.
Medium: Silver
Object number: S2018.1.22
Unknown artist, Greek (Ancient)
Date: 413 B.C.E. - 406 B.C.E.
Medium: Bronze
Object number: S2018.1.16
Unknown artist, Roman Empire
Date: 14 B.C.E. - 37 C.E.
Medium: Silver
Object number: S2018.1.25
Unknown artist, Roman Empire
Date: 98 C.E. - 117 C.E.
Medium: Silver
Object number: S2018.1.27