Abderite Tetradrachm
Greece
540–350
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$39.76
Based on Silver spot price ($80.83/oz) · 90.0% purity · 17g
Updated 2:16 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Greece |
| Years Minted | 540–350 |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 17 g |
| Diameter | 28 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Depicts a griffin, often seated or springing, as a symbol of the city of Abdera in Thrace.
Reverse
Features an incuse square or later designs such as an eagle or magistrate's symbols.
History & Notable Facts
The griffin on Abderite tetradrachms, with its eagle head and lion body, likely drew from Thracian myths of gold-guarding beasts, reflecting the region's rich mines. These silver coins, struck in Abdera from around 540 to 350 BC, show the creature in profile, sometimes with a dolphin on the reverse—possibly a nod to local trade routes.
Weight varied, but most weighed about 17 grams, indicating consistent silver supplies. Designs evolved over time, from simpler early strikes to more detailed later ones, as minting techniques improved.
We don't know exact mintage figures; records from antiquity are scarce. As for myths, I've heard plenty about cursed griffins, but that's just collectors' fancy.
One die might have produced hundreds before wearing out.
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