TCV Roundtable Blog

100 Greatest Ancient Coins Series: Arethusa Facing Head Tetradrachm By Kimon (Sicily - 410 BC)

We are going to look at yet another top 10 pick today in our blog series following along with Whitman Publishing’s 100 Greatest Ancient Coins. We are also going to learn about yet another coin created by Kimon, an artist referenced in the last two of our blogs covering this compilation. As always, author Harlan J. Berk will be leading the charge as we dissect the importance of Kimon’s design. We remind you that this top 100 list features coins from the earliest onward despite their ranking.

#7 – Arethusa Facing Head Tetradrachm by Kimon

“Simply a masterpiece” is the way Berk describes this coin design by artist Kimon. He even goes as far to imply that perhaps Kimon was in love with a beautiful girl when he created the die for the image of Arethusa. The obverse depicts the facing head of the water nymph wearing an...read more