Histiaea Silver Tetrobol – Ancient Greece – NGC Certified

Own a certified silver Tetrobol from Histiaea, an ancient city on the island of Euboea, slabbed by NGC. Struck during the 4th–3rd centuries BCE, this coin embodies the rich blend of mythology, artistry, and civic pride characteristic of Classical Greece.

The city of Histiaea took its name from a mythic figure — the nymph Histiaea, daughter of Hyrieus, a descendant of Poseidon. According to legend, Hyrieus constructed a secure treasury chamber to protect his wealth, unaware that the architects he had commissioned — Trophonius and Agamedes — had built a hidden entrance. The pair secretly looted the chamber until Hyrieus, puzzled by the losses, set a trap. When Agamedes was ensnared, Trophonius severed his brother’s head to conceal their identity, then vanished into myth.

This tale of cunning and divine descent imbued the city with mystique, reflected in its coinage. The obverse of the Histiaea Tetrobol typically features the head of the nymph Histiaea, crowned with vine leaves and facing right — a graceful, high-relief portrait that exemplifies classical Greek engraving. The reverse shows her seated on the prow of a galley, symbolizing the city's naval strength and maritime identity, with an inscription naming the city.

Silver Tetrobols from Histiaea are prized for their beauty and mythological resonance. Certified by NGC, this coin offers collectors a rare artifact from a city steeped in legend — a timeless piece from the heart of ancient Greek civilization.