Bowdoin College Museum of Art | - Stater of Tarentum

Preview image of work. silver, Stater of Tarentum 1460

1919.58.25

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Stater of Tarentum

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Artist

Artist Unidentified

Title

Stater of Tarentum

Creation Date

272 BCE-235 BCE

Century

3rd century BCE

Object Type

coin

Creation Place

Ancient Mediterranean, Greece

Medium and Support

silver

Credit Line

Gift of the Board of Governors, Collection of Henry Johnson, Class of 1874

Copyright

This artwork may be under copyright. For further information, please consult the Museum’s Copyright Terms and Conditions.

Accession Number

1919.58.25

The Roman sestertius was introduced around 211 BCE as a small silver coin valued at one-quarter of a denarius and was minted sporadically until the Imperial Period. During the coinage reforms instituted under Augustus, the sestertius was reintroduced as a large denomination made of orichalcum (brass). Their large size gave caelatores, or engravers, a large circular area in which to produce detailed portraits and elaborate designs on the reverse (tails).

Keywords: Greek