Both sides of an irregularly shaped silver-gray coin with relief decoration on each side.　
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

On the side of the coin on the left is a closeup of an ear of barley, consisting of seven grains with seven spikelets, made up of small dots, radiating outwards; surrounding the border, small dots, and the Greek characters: M E T A. The other side of the coin depicts the reverse image of the front pressed into the coin.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1972.94
Title
Stater of Metapontion, Lucania
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
540 - 510 BCE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Lucania, Metapontion (Lucania)
Period
Archaic period
Culture
Greek
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/195439

Location

Location
Level 3, Room 3400, Ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Art, Ancient Greece in Black and Orange
View this object's location on our interactive map

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Silver
Metal
AR
Technique
Struck
Dimensions
8.11 g
Die Axis
12
Denomination
stater
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Obverse Inscription: META

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
Noe, 134; HN 3, 1479

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Frederick M. Watkins
Accession Year
1972
Object Number
1972.94
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obverse: Seven-grained barley ear with bracts at the base.
Reverse: Head of barley, incuse.

Publication History

  • The Frederick M. Watkins Collection, exh. cat., Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA, 1973)

Exhibition History

  • The Frederick M. Watkins Collection, Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, 01/31/1973 - 03/14/1973
  • Re-View: S422 Ancient & Byzantine Art & Numismatics, Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, 04/12/2008 - 06/18/2011
  • 32Q: 3400 Greek, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 11/16/2014 - 01/01/2050

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu