Hieron II - AE 19mm
Obverse
Name/Title
Hieron II - AE 19mmEntry/Object ID
C2020-G88-536Description
A coin issued by Hieron II depicting the god Poseidon and his symbol, the trident.Context
Hieron II (r. 296-215 BCE) was a Hellenistic king of Syracuse. Originally a military general, he was recognized as the third king of the city-state following his victory at the battle of Longanus. The coin type depicting the head of Poseidon on the obverse with the trident on the reverse was struck across the several decades of Hieron's reign. In antiquity, many of these Poseidon/trident coins were cut in half along the center prong of the trident and were discovered in hoards and shops alongside uncut coins. It is debated why there was a need for small denominations of coinage in Syracuse, but scholars argue that the most likely reason was that the people of Sicily simply required small change for their day-to-day transactions.Collection
Hellenistic GreeceMintage
Mint
SyracuseDate made
274 BCE - 216 BCETime Period
HellenisticPlace of Origin
City
SyracuseRegion
SicilyManufacture Method
StruckCoin Details
Obverse
Description
Head of Poseidon, wearing tainia, left.Reverse
Description
Ornamental trident head, two dolphins to left and right.Transcription
IEPΩ - NO(Σ)Translation
Of/belonging to Hieron.Issuing Authority
Hieron IIDenomination
AE 19mmEthnography
Cultural Region
Region
SicilyCulture/Tribe
Greek