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Æ10
| Issuer | Argos |
|---|---|
| Year | 400 BC - 300 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Bust of Hera facing right, her head adorned with an ornate stephane, rendered in the compact archaic-to-classical Greek style characteristic of Argive bronze coinage. The modelling of the facial features is bold and stylized, with a prominent eye and softly defined cheek. The stephane rises prominently above the brow, serving as the principal iconographic marker of the goddess. The field is plain with no surrounding legend or border. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Head of a wolf facing left, depicted with angular, stylized modelling typical of small Argive bronze issues of the 4th century BC. The snout is pointed and the jaw firmly set, conveying the animal's predatory character. The wolf was a sacred animal associated with Apollo Lykeios, a prominent deity in the Argolid region. The field is unadorned and devoid of inscription or border decoration. |
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| Additional information |
Argos maintained an unusual degree of political independence throughout the fourth century, refusing to join either side at Leuctra and pursuing a foreign policy that frequently put it at odds with both Sparta and the emerging Macedonian hegemony. Small bronze issues like this one served the internal economy of a polis that was never quite aligned with the dominant powers of its day. The "var." designation against BCD 1120 suggests a die combination not fully catalogued in that landmark sale — not uncommon for Argive small bronze, where the volume of surviving pieces continues to outpace systematic study.