Coin Depicting Pegasus
about 400-310 BCE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diam.: 1.4 cm (9/16 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
142734
Art Historical Context
This petite bronze coin, struck around 400-310 BCE by Ancient Greek artisans, showcases the mythical winged horse Pegasus on its surface. Measuring just 1.4 cm in diameter, it exemplifies the remarkable precision of Classical Greek numismatics, where even tiny objects served as canvases for storytelling and civic pride. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago Arts of Greece, Rome and Byzantium department, artifact bridges art, economics, and mythology. Pegasus, born from the blood of Medusa, symbolized poetic inspiration, heroism, and the city-state of Corinth, whose coins famously featured th...
About the Artist
Ancient Greek
The artist known simply as "Ancient Greek" represents the anonymous masters of Attic vase painting, a cornerstone of Classical Greek art from the Archaic and Classical periods (circa 700–300 BCE). Little is known of their personal life, as ancient Greek potters and painters rarely signed their works or left biographical traces; early life and training remain not well documented. These creators ope...