This replica of a Corinthian didrachma is cast from an original coin and made of a lead-free tin alloy. The coin is housed in a transparent blister pack set into a cutout on the front of the fold-out case. The packaging is adorned with an image of the Acropolis; inside, both coins from this collection are featured, along with other Greek motifs. Included is historical information about the coins as well as the rise and fall of the ancient Greek empire.
The motifs on the replica of the Corinthian didrachm hold special significance for the Greek city-state of Corinth. According to myth, Athena gave Bellerophon a golden bridle, with which he was able to tame the winged horse Pegasus on the Acropolis of Corinth. The obverse of the coin depicts the head of Athena, and the reverse depicts Pegasus.
Greece began to emerge from a dark age in the 8th century B.C. The ancient Greeks lived on the Greek mainland and islands, but as their population grew, they also settled in what is now Turkey and in colonies scattered along the Mediterranean coast. Greek settlements were found in Italy, Sicily, North Africa, and as far west as the territory of present-day France. Through their sea voyages in search of trade and new land, the Greeks spread their way of life to many regions.
A unified country called Greece did not exist at that time. Instead, there were small city-states, each with its own government. Sometimes they fought each other; at other times, they formed alliances. Among the largest were Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and Olympia.
The Greeks created a way of life that other nations admired and imitated. The Romans, for example, adopted Greek art and deities. The ancient Greeks experimented with democratic government, founded the Olympic Games, and left behind significant ideas in the fields of science, art, and philosophy.
Alexander the Great intended to create a Greek empire encompassing most of the then-known world. However, he died in 323 B.C., and his empire was divided among rival generals. The resulting kingdoms preserved many elements of the Greek way of life, but ultimately succumbed to the growing power of Rome.
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