Ancient Greek Octopus Coin Pendant

Obverse: Octopus
Reverse: Head of Arethousa right, wearing pearl tainia
Date: c. 478-466 BC
Bezel: 14k Gold
Weight:  2.16 grams
Diameter: 15 mm / .59 in

Description

This item is an authentic Greek silver coin, placed in a handmade bezel of 14k Gold. There is only 1 of this item; you will receive the exact pendant shown in the photos. 

History of the Artifact

This small silver litra was struck in the Greek city of Syracuse between 478 and 466 BC, during the rule of the tyrant Hieron I, when Syracuse was emerging as the dominant power in Sicily. The obverse portrays the nymph Arethusa, the city's divine protectress, whose freshwater spring on the island of Ortygia became one of Syracuse's most enduring symbols. Her graceful portrait reflects the growing sophistication of Sicilian engraving during the early Classical period, when local artists began producing some of the finest coin designs in the Greek world.

The reverse features an octopus, a distinctive emblem of Syracuse's intimate relationship with the sea. As one of the Mediterranean's foremost naval and commercial powers, the city depended on maritime trade, fishing, and naval strength for its prosperity, making marine imagery a natural civic symbol. Although modest in size, litrai like this carried carefully chosen designs that projected the city's identity through both mythology and everyday life. Today, these coins are admired for their elegant simplicity and are regarded as early examples of the artistic excellence that would later make Syracusan coinage among the most celebrated of the ancient world.

Ancient Artifacts guarantees the Authenticity of items sold through a three layer system of protection: 

1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

You will receive the exact pendant shown in the photos.

In antiquity, small silver coins like these were often buried alongside larger denominations as personal savings during periods of warfare or uncertainty, creating hoards that remained hidden when their owners never returned to recover them. Protected underground and aided by the durability of silver, many examples survived centuries of burial with their designs still remarkably clear despite their small size. Most pieces known today originate from such hoards, which have been legally uncovered, carefully examined, and dispersed through the modern numismatic trade. From there they pass through reputable dealers and auctions, where they are authenticated, cataloged, and distributed as historical artifacts associated with the Greek city of Syracuse rather than isolated accidental finds.