2021-10-25 Mon

Music is as old as civilization. In the ancient world, musical instruments played important roles in worship and warfare as well as entertainment, and we see them depicted on a wide range of coins.

By far the most common musical instrument seen on ancient coins is the lyre, a kind of harp with a hollow soundbox, two curved arms, a crossbar, and between three to 12 gut strings that were strummed or plucked with a pick.

A bronze Hemiassarion of Antioch of Syria depicts a lyre. The obverse of the coin features Laureate and draped bust of Apollo to left. The reverse depicts an archaic turtle-shell type lyre with six strings in the center flanked by the legend ??????? ?? ???.

Image Courtesy: coinweek.com