Samos Tetradrachm

The Samos tetradrachm's obverse typically shows a lion's head, its mane flowing like the Aegean winds, paired with a bull on the reverse—symbols that likely represented the island's mythical founders.

These silver coins were struck on Samos, an island off the Anatolian coast, between roughly 400 and 200 BC, during periods when the polis asserted its autonomy amid shifting empires. We know they varied in weight, from about 16 to 17 grams, reflecting local silver sources and trade demands.

Exact mintage figures are lost to time; ancient records weren't as meticulous as modern ones. What survives are the coins themselves, often with detailed engravings that hint at the skill of Samian die-cutters.

Die varieties show the bull sometimes facing left, sometimes right, which might indicate different workshops or years, though we're not certain. It's a reminder that not every detail was meant for posterity.

No one mistakes these for mere trinkets, but that's beside the point.