Catalog
Hemidrachm
| Issuer | Gortyna |
|---|---|
| Year | 300 BC - 270 BC |
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| Currency | Drachm |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Forepart (protome) of a bull facing left, the head turned slightly toward the viewer in three-quarter perspective, rendered in high relief with muscular anatomical detail characteristic of early Hellenistic Cretan coinage. The animal's muzzle, dewlap, and curved horns are clearly delineated against the plain, unadorned field. The design fills the flan with a bold, naturalistic plasticity that reflects the accomplished die-cutting tradition of Gortyna. |
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| Reverse description | Draped bust of Europa facing right, her hair dressed and bound in a rolled coiffure (krobylos), rendered in fine incuse relief within the plain field. The facial features are modeled with delicate Hellenistic artistry, conveying the mythological identity of the Phoenician princess who, according to legend, was abducted by Zeus in the form of a bull and brought to Crete, making her a central civic symbol of Gortyna. No legend or additional devices are present in the field. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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