Fourree stater

Unknown

ca. 600–500 BC · Electrum · Greek and Roman Art

With the invention of ancient coinage, issuing authorities put symbols on carefully weighed lumps of metal to guarantee their weight. This stater of Kyzikos, however, is an ancient counterfeit. Rather than pure electrum, an alloy of gold and silver, it is only plated in the precious metal. Despite harsh penalties, including death for the perpetrator, counterfeiting seems to have been surprisingly widespread in antiquity.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 600–500 BC

Medium

Electrum

Culture

Greek, Mysia, Kyzikos

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Bequest of Nanette B. Kelekian, 2020