Aetna Master and "The Coin of Coins"

[Michael E. Marotta]

This coin is now on display at the Israel Museum. They say:

"Struck in Sicily in the mid-fifth century BCE, the unique Aitna
tetradrachm is among the most splendid achievements of Greek art. This
silver coin is rich with historical and iconographic significance,
shedding light on the short-lived colony of Aitna and the symbols its
inhabitants held dear. The masterwork of one of the finest die
engravers of all times, the Aitna tetradrachm is also a coin of
singular beauty, which has earned a place among the artistic wonders
of the ancient world. The coin has not left the Bibliotheque royale in
Brussels since its arrival there in 1899, and was only shown to
scholars upon special request. Its exhibition at the Israel Museum,
along with other coins attributed to the Aitna Master, constitutes its
world premiere."

A brief appeard in the European numismatic magazine Cronaca:
http://www.cronaca.com/archives/002449.html

The Exhibition Catalog can be downloaded from the Israel Museum
website as a PDF.

http://www.imj.org.il/images/exhibitions/2004/grid_b20.pdf

[Ian]

The brochure uncludes an interesting excursion as to how it was
officially copied during WWII and how at least one unofficial copy from
that exercise managed to get loose.

Of course, there are countless modern repros of this coin `out there'.

Ian

[Dale Hallmark]

"Ian" <I...@somewhereovertherainbow.com> wrote in message
news:Vvnnd.18370$up1....@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...

Doppelgangers are out there?
Scully is that you?

Dale

[Ian]

SSSsssshhh Mulder!! They're watching, and waiting......

[/\/\ark]

Cool! Where is this museum located?

/\/\ark

"Michael E. Marotta" <mer...@torchlake.com> wrote in message
news:a0ebae31.0411...@posting.google.com...

[Christian Feldhaus]

/\/\ark <Ma...@persephone.net> wrote:

> Cool! Where is this museum located?

Jerusalem. See
http://www.imj.org.il/eng/resources/press/index.html#coin

Christian