Silver Greek Tetradrachm Pyrrhos, Kingdom of Epirus, Thrace Museum Specimen Coin

Description: Museum Specimen Coin: Silver Greek Tetradrachm of Pyrrhos, Kings of Epirus (Epeiros), Thrace Lokroi Epizephyrioi mint Solid Silver Coin Obverse side: Head of Zeus left, wearing oak wreath. Legend: AnepigraphicReverse side: Dione seated left, holding staff in right hand and lifting her veil with her left.Legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠYPPOY Weight: ~ 17.4 gramDiameter: ~ 30 mm Pyrrhos was one of the greatest generals of antiquity. He spent much of his reign campaigning outside his kingdom. He achieved notable victories against the Romans in Italy and against the Carthaginians in Sicily though he was eventually worsted by the former. For brief period he also ruled in Macedonian kingdom.Although the increasingly powerful Romans had been extending their influence into Magna Graecia for years, in 282 BC, they installed garrisons in the cities of Thurii, Locri and Rhegium. Fearing that Tarentum would be next, in 281 BC the Tarentines asked for military aid from mainland Greece. Pyrrhos, the king of Epeiros in northwestern Greece, heeded the call and began assembling a great army that arrived in southern Italy the following year. His force of 20,000 infantry, 3000 cavalry and 20 war elephants were an impressive sight and with it he was able to defeat the Romans and their allies at the Battle of Heraclea in 280 BC although many of his best troops were killed in the fighting. Thanks to this success, the Roman garrison was expelled from Locri and the Locrians joined Pyrrhos in opposition to Rome. Although Pyrrhos offered peace terms to the Romans, these were refused, and the Pyrrhic War continued in Italy. In 279 BC, Pyrrhos faced the Romans again at the Battle of Asculum. This was also a defeat for the Romans, but it cost Pyrrhos so many of his experienced officers that he famously quipped, „If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined." Unsure of how best to proceed in the aftermath of this first pyrrhic victory, Pyrrhos then decided to answer a request from Syracuse to aid in driving the Carthaginians out of Sicily in the hopes of carving out a Sicilian kingdom for himself and tapping the wealth of the island for renewing the war against the Romans in Italy. During his Sicilian adventure, which lasted from 278 to 275 BC, Pyrrhos installed garrisons in many of the cities of Magna Graecia in order to hold them against the Romans during his absence. Locri was one of the cities to receive a garrison. Unfortunately, as Pyrrhos' absence in Sicily dragged on, the garrison at Locri became unruly and began to abuse its Locrian hosts. This behaviour went on for some time until the Locrians finally had enough and expelled the garrison in a popular uprising. When Pyrrhos finally returned in 275 BC and learned what had happened, he was furious and punished the city by imposing a heavy payment of tribute and by plundering the wealth of the Locrian temple of Persephone. The present coin is believed to have been struck at Locri to pay the tribute to Pyrrhos on this occasion and may perhaps even have been produced from silver stored in the temple. Unlike many other coinages of Magna Graecia and Sicily associated with financing the wars of Pyrrhos, the Locrian series has a strongly Epeirote character. The obverse depicts Zeus Naios, the chief deity of the oracular shrine at Dodona in Epeiros, while the reverse features Dione, the god's consort. The issue also explicitly names King Pyrrhos as the issuing authority. After an inconclusive battle with the Romans at Beneventum in 275 BC, it was clear that Pyrrhos had worn out his welcome in Magna Graecia and the king decided to return to Epeiros laden with the wealth of Locri. Unfortunately, on the return voyage storms destroyed many of his ships. It was determined that this great misfortune was caused by the wrath of the gods who were punishing him for the impiety of plundering the temple of Persephone. In an effort to set things right and prevent further misfortune, Pyrrhos subsequently returned what he had carried off from Locri. The tetradrachm (Greek: τετράδραχμον, translit. tetrádrachmon) was a large silver coin that originated in Ancient Greece. It was nominally equivalent to four drachmae, worth four times a man's daily wage for a skilled labourer or for a hoplite soldier, or two days' pay for a sculptor working on a public building. Over time the tetradrachm effectively became the standard coin of the Antiquity, spreading well beyond the borders of the Greek World.The images on early Greek coins give us a lot of information about Ancient Greek life and culture. For exampleimages of sacred and important buildings and temples, show us what their buildings looked like thousands ofyears ago. Coins were not just money, but propaganda or a means of communicating civic pride. Coins arevaluable, durable and pass through many hands. Without newspapers or other mass media, they were an idealway of spreading a political message. Introducing our exquisite Museum Specimen Coin of Greek Silver Tetradrachm Coin, a stunning tribute to the artistry and cultural legacy of Ancient Greece. Meticulously crafted, this Museum Specimen captures the essence of one of the most iconic coins in Greek history.Crafted from high-quality silver, our Museum Specimen of Greek Silver Tetradrachm Coin possesses an air of authenticity and historical significance. Its weight and size provide a tangible connection to the past, allowing you to appreciate the craftsmanship and cultural significance of Ancient Greek coinage.The meticulous engraving work and raised relief bring the imagery to life, showcasing the artistry and storytelling of Ancient Greek culture and paying homage to the skill of the Ancient Greek craftsmen.Experience the grandeur and legacy of Ancient Greece with our extraordinary Museum Specimen of Greek Silver Tetradrachm Coin. Own a piece of history and let its timeless beauty and historical significance captivate you and those around you. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a collector or someone captivated by the splendor of Ancient Greece, this Museum Specimen Coin is a prized addition to your collection. Display it in a coin case, frame it as a captivating piece of art, or use it as a source of inspiration and admiration.Unleash your fascination with Ancient Greece and embrace the enduring beauty of our Museum Specimen of Greek Silver Tetradrachm Coin. Let its timeless charm transport you to a world of mythology, art and history. Own a piece of Greek heritage and embark on a journey through the remarkable legacy of this extraordinary civilization.At Roman Greece, we are passionate about honoring the legacy of ancient civilizations and providing extraordinary Museum Specimen Coins that allow you to experience the magnificence of the past. Our Museum Specimen of Greek Silver Tetradrachm Coin is a testament to our dedication to historical accuracy and excellence. RomanGreece came to existence in 2009, as a small family-operated business, with a passion for souvenirs, coins and collectible items. What we do is both a hobby and a business. Our mission is to offer high-quality Museum Specimens, so people who appreciate and collect art have the opportunity to own such quality without having to spend a fortune. At a symbolic price you can complement your collection with rare items from all over the world or make a unique present to someone by giving them a piece of history. We enjoy dealing with Museum Specimen Coins made by hand in our art metal studio.We offer the rarest and choicest Ancient Greece, Roman, Biblical and Colonial coins - done just the way our ancient ancestors used to make them (all coins are struck, not cast). The coins are uniquely beautiful and accurately detailed. This kind of art have been highly regarded by connoisseurs, including rare collectors, art historians and educators. Our customers include museums, museum shops, universities and film productions and theaters from all around the world! 📌 All our coins are made of genuine solid sterling silver and bronze. We don't sell silver plated base metal, tin, plastic or fake silver. ⭕ - Shipping - ✔ Ready to Ship in 1-3 Business Days✔ We ship worldwide!🌎 Via Recorded International Airmail (trackable!)✔ The product will be sent in a padded envelope, packaged 🎁 in a coin collecting flip, safely packed with bubble wrap to avoid any damage during shipping.✔ Visit our store, browse our other collections, and find the perfect piece you're looking for. - Returns, Exchanges & Cancellations - ✔ Cancellations are only acceptable, if the items hasn't been shipped.✔ No exchanges.✔ No returns. 👋 Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? We are glad to hear from our customers and are always quick to respond. We value privacy so please don't worry, any contact information provided will not be retained or utilized for any other purpose beyond the response to your inquiry. PROTECTION AGAINST PRODUCT ABUSE:What if someone tampers with your Museum Specimen Coins and sells it as an original?Then in all likelihood such a person will have committed a criminal offense punishable by the law of his/her country. We have no desire for the abuse of our art, therefore we monitor closely the course of events on the collector's market as well as any attempts at misuse. For this reason, we would like to warn those who intend to purchase from us with this dishonest intent of the simplicity of tracing their purchase with us.The coins are marked and made to differ in weight and size in order not to be used as a counterfeit.All our products are intended for display, collection and educational purposes only! The actual item may vary slightly from the one shown! We have several items of each item so for the photos We have simply choose one of them. You might not receive the very same item from the photo but it will be 99.99% the same. 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Price: 65.91 USD

Location: European Union

End Time: 2025-01-25T10:20:00.000Z

Shipping Cost: 7.5 USD