A close look at ancient Greek silver tetradrachms, from Hermes and Apollo to hare, torch, and mule biga.

This article introduces a group of ancient Greek silver tetradrachms through clear, image-based descriptions in modern English. Readers will find the main motifs, inscriptions, and reverse types explained coin by coin, with historical context kept concise and focused on what can actually be seen on each piece.

Ainos, Thrace: Greek Silver Tetradrachm Coin with Hermes and Goat.

This tetradrachm coin from Ainos in Thrace is a silver tetradrachm of early style. The obverse of this Greek tetradrachm shows the head of Hermes facing right and wearing a petasos, the broad-brimmed hat associated with the god. On the reverse appears the inscription AINI, with a goat standing to the right. In the field there is also an astragalos, a knucklebone used in antiquity as a gaming piece and also as a small symbol on coins. The obverse is notable for its unusual relief and its refined archaic style.

• Standard weight of this type: approx. 15.89 g / 0.56 oz.
• Minted circa 471/470–469/468 BC.
• Known examples of this type measure 23–25.6 mm.

How much is it worth?

A similar example sold on eBay (USA) for $300 (three hundred US Dollars) in April 2026.

Ainos, Thrace: Greek Silver Tetradrachm Coin with Facing Hermes and Goat

This Greek silver tetradrachm from Ainos in Thrace belongs to the later phase of the city’s coinage, when Hermes is shown facing rather than in profile. The obverse presents the head of Hermes wearing a petasos, while the reverse bears the legend ΑΙΝΙΟΝ above a goat standing to the right within an incuse square. A small trophy appears at the lower right, setting this type apart from other Ainos tetradrachms with different field symbols. The combination of frontal portrait, goat, and trophy makes this a distinct and very recognizable issue of Ainos.

• Minted circa 382/381–380/379 BC.
• Known examples of this type measure 21–25 mm.
• Average weight of the type: 15.37 g / 0.54 oz.

Aitolia: Greek Silver Tetradrachm Coin with Herakles and Seated Aitolia

This Greek silver tetradrachm of the Aitolian federal coinage shows the head of Herakles facing right in a lion skin on the obverse. The reverse presents Aitolia seated to the right on a pile of Gaulish arms, with the ethnic inscription and monograms in the field and exergue. The type combines a familiar heroic portrait with a political image of victory and regional identity, making it one of the most characteristic silver issues of Aitolia.

• Minted circa 239–229 BC
• Known examples of this type measure 25 - 28 mm
• Average weight of the type: 15.85 - 16.62 g.

Amphipolis, Macedon: Greek Silver Tetradrachm Coin with Apollo, Torch, and Tripod

This Greek silver tetradrachm from Amphipolis in Macedon shows a laureate head of Apollo in three-quarter facing view on the obverse. The reverse places a racing torch inside a square border, with the ethnic legend ΑΜΦΙΠΟΛΙΤΕΩΝ around it and a small tripod in the field. The combination of Apollo’s frontal head and the torch type makes this one of the most recognizable silver issues of Amphipolis.

• Minted circa 362–361 BC.
• Known type measurement: 26 mm.
• Known type weight: 14.12 g / 0.50 oz.

Messana, Sicily: Greek Silver Tetradrachm Coin with Hare and Mule Biga

This Greek silver tetradrachm from Messana in Sicily shows a hare running to the right, with a dolphin placed below in the field. The other side shows a female charioteer driving a biga of mules to the right, with two dolphins in the exergue. In published examples of this design, the charioteer is identified as the nymph Messana. The pairing of hare, dolphin, mule biga, and dolphins makes this one of the most distinctive silver coin types of late Classical Messana.

• Minted circa 420–413 BC.
• Known published examples of this design measure 25–28 mm.
• Known published examples of this design weigh about 17.00–17.16 g / 0.60–0.61 oz.

Myrina, Aeolis: Greek Silver Tetradrachm Coin with Apollo and Apollo Gryneios

This Greek silver tetradrachm from Myrina in Aeolis shows the laureate head of Apollo facing right. The reverse presents Apollo Gryneios standing to the right, holding a phiale and a filleted branch, with an omphalos and a large amphora at his feet. A monogram appears in the field, and the whole design is enclosed within a laurel wreath. The combination of Apollo’s portrait with the standing cult figure of Apollo Gryneios gives this tetradrachm a clear religious character and a highly structured reverse design.

• Mint range from “after 189 BC” to broader mid-2nd-century attributions.
• Dimensions: Known published examples of this type measure about 32–35.5 mm.
• Weight: Known published examples of this type weigh about 15.29–16.85 g / 0.54–0.59 oz.

How much is it worth?

A similar example sold on eBay (USA) for $1,978.20 in Feb 2026.

Naxos, Sicily: Greek Silver Tetradrachm Coin with Dionysos and Silenos

This Greek silver tetradrachm from Naxos in Sicily shows the head of Dionysos facing right, wearing a broad ivy-decorated diadem. The reverse shows Silenos seated on the ground, holding a kantharos in his right hand and a thyrsos in his left, with an ivy plant in the field. The pairing of Dionysos and Silenos gives this coin a strongly Dionysiac character and makes it one of the best-known silver types of Naxos.

• Mint: Published examples of this specific design are dated around 415 BC.
• Dimensions: Known published examples of this design measure about 25.25–27 mm.
• Weight: Known published examples of this design weigh about 16.74–17.44 g / 0.59–0.62 oz.

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