Art Institute of Chicago

Tetradrachm (Coin) Depicting the God Apollo Gryneios

Greek; minted in Myrina, Aeolis, Asia Minor (now Turkey)

Date

189 BCE or later

Medium

Silver

Culture

Greece

Department

Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the head of the god Apollo, laureate, facing to the right. The back (reverse) depicts Apollo marching right, holding a patera and garlanded laurel branch; at his feet are an omphalos and diota. This coin is recognized as one of the most beautiful examples of minting from antiquity. Apollo is wearing a wreath of laurel, which was his sacred plant. In his youth Apollo pursued a nymph named Daphne (another name for laurel), who chose to turn into a laurel tree to escape the god.

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