TCV Roundtable Blog

100 Greatest Women On Coins Series: Leda and the Swan

We have been presented with a couple of different women from Greek mythology so far as part of our blog series covering Whitman Publishing’s 100 Greatest Women on Coins. However, the story of this next woman is not well known but her importance is greater than we all know, especially in relation to the gods. Author Ron Guth will help us understand her role and the myth that has spawned multiple versions of her existence.

#37 – Leda and The Swan

A figure known from Greek mythology because of her interaction with the god Zeus, Leda produced four offspring, all of which became more famous than their mother. One of those children was Helen of Troy, the beautiful woman that incited the Trojan War after she was kidnapped.

Leda and the Swan is a myth that developed over time, as such the details are mixed. Generalizing the story, Leda’s beauty attracted the attention of Zeus. He would then take the form...read more