Artemis / Youth Riding Horse

Description

Obverse: Facing head of Artemis turned slightly to left, wearing quiver, triple-pendant earring and beaded necklace
Reverse: Nude youth riding horse to right, reins in left hand, victory palm in right hand; forepart of Pegasos right; ΦΙΛΙΠ - ΠΟΥ

Produce in the lifetime of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. An absolutely spectacular facing head from Amphipolis. Apart from Syracuse and Larissa, Amphipolis was the next major city who produced coins featuring facing heads. Most of them were facing heads of Apollo, but this coin instead contains a rather fierce depiction of Artemis, goddess of the hunt. Espescially compared to the obverses of this type, this obverse looks espescially fierce with her rugged hair and piercing eyes, Additionally, she is wearing the classic triple-pendant earring, popularized also commonly worn and popularized by Arethusa from Syracuse.

Details

Numista Reference

Provenance