Hecte: Head of Omphale (obverse); Incuse Square (reverse)

Description

This very small electrum coin shows the Lydian queen Omphale on the obverse. She can be distinguished from Herakles, whose lion-skin she wears, by her earring. Also visible, over her shoulder, is the hero’s club, while beneath her swims a small seal—phôkê in Greek, a punning reference to Phokaia, where the coin was made. The reverse features a much simpler design, a quartered incuse square.

Provenance

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Hecte: Head of Omphale (obverse); Incuse Square (reverse)

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387–326 BCE

Accession Number

1916.973

Medium

electrum (gold-silver alloy)

Dimensions

Diameter: 0.9 cm (3/8 in.)

Classification

Coins

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Gift of J. H. Wade