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Hemidrachm - 111st-114th Olympiad
| Issuer | Sanctuary of Zeus, Olympia |
|---|---|
| Year | 336 BC - 324 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Draped bust of Hera facing right, her hair elaborately coiffed and bound beneath a tall stephanos decorated with relief ornaments. The goddess is rendered in the refined Peloponnesian style characteristic of the Olympian mint, with delicate facial features including an almond-shaped eye, straight nose, and slightly parted lips. The hair falls in soft waves above the nape of the neck, with individual locks rendered with fine engraving. The entire design is set within an irregular flan with no surrounding legend. |
|---|---|
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Olympia's sanctuary issues occupy an unusual position in Greek numismatics — struck not by a polis but by a religious institution, their production was tied directly to the quadrennial festival cycle rather than to civic economic need. The coins circulating at and around Olympia during these years did so against the backdrop of Philip II's assassination in 336 BC and the rapid consolidation of power by his son, whose campaigns would within a decade fundamentally disrupt the flow of Greek silver across the eastern Mediterranean.
HGC 5, 456 is a scarce type, and specimens that do appear tend to show considerable die wear — consistent with a small issuing authority working with limited engraving resources across multiple festival cycles.