Artemis Collector's Medallion

Artemis, identifiable by her bow, was the Greek goddess of the hunt, nature, childbirth, and animals, depicted here with a practical hairstyle crowned by a wreath of laurels. She was celebrated as a patron of healing and protector against disease, particularly for women and the young.

Minted in Perge, a Greek city in Pamphylia, this coin celebrates the city’s strong links to the goddess Artemis. In the 2nd century B.C., the city became prosperous and began minting its own coins with the image of Artemis. Renowned for its worship of Artemis, the city boasted a temple dedicated to her on the acropolis in its northern part and held annual festivals in her honour.

The reverse depicts Artemis standing, holding a wreath and sceptre, with a deer by her side. The deer, commonly associated with Artemis, serves as a sacred emblem of her role as the huntress. According to mythology, Artemis's mother, Leto, was forbidden by Hera from giving birth on solid land, and only the island of Delos gave her refuge. Artemis was raised in the forests of Delos, mingling freely with the wildlife and developing a love for nature, hence she was commonly depicted alongside a deer or dog.

The myth of Actaeon and Artemis highlights the darker side of her association with deer. One night, the young hunter Actaeon encountered Artemis bathing. Spellbound, he found himself unable to look away, enraging the goddess and her nymphs. Artemis splashed Actaeon with water, and he soon began to morph into a deer. In a brutal turn of events, Actaeon’s own hunting dogs turned on him and killed him. This enduring myth reveals Artemis’s power as a goddess and the complex nature of her character.

Artemis was one of the most widely venerated of the Olympian deities with her great temple at Ephesus being considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This coin not only displays the celebration of her locally in Perge but highlights the power she held throughout antiquity.

• Coin Ø 28mm

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Each ancient coin and artefact used in our jewellery has been restored and professionally stabilised to ensure it can be enjoyed for lifetimes. Patina, the natural toning and oxidation on silver, bronze, and copper coins, is not dirt; it is a protective layer formed over hundreds of years, adding to the coin’s unique history. Conservation efforts aim to stabilise and preserve these valuable patinas whenever possible. Silver naturally tones over time, developing a soft to deep grey with brighter highlights on raised surfaces. This toning is highly coveted, adding a touch of age and beauty to the coin’s details that only time can provide.

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