Ephesian Cistophorus – A Temple Remembered in Silver

An imperial portrait faces one of antiquity’s most celebrated sanctuaries on this handcrafted Ancient Tribute. Inspired by the cistophorus coinage of Claudius, the medal brings the temple imagery of Ephesus into 2 troy ounces of .999 fine silver. Its antiqued surface and individually worked outline give the classical design a substantial, tactile presence.

A Coin Linking Emperor and City

The ancient type pairs the bare head of Claudius, facing left, with a temple containing the cult statue of Diana of Ephesus. Oxford’s Roman Provincial Coinage catalogue records this combination and the reverse legend DIAN EPHE. It is a compact statement of two kinds of authority: the emperor’s portrait and a sanctuary central to the city’s identity.

Diana is the Roman name used here for Artemis. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was counted among the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. UNESCO describes it as a destination for pilgrims from across the Mediterranean; little of the famous building survives today. Coin designs preserve a small but evocative record of the sanctuary’s importance.

Design Details

The obverse carries the left-facing imperial portrait and CLAVD CAES AVG lettering. On the reverse, DIAN EPHE accompanies a four-column temple, with the goddess’s statue framed at its center. The Ionic columns rise above a stepped podium, while figures and smaller details enrich the triangular pediment. This is symbolic architecture on a coin, rather than a measured plan of the full ancient building.

Made One Piece at a Time

The edges are hand-hammered before the heated silver is centered by eye and hot struck under high-relief dies without a retaining collar. Small differences in outline and centering are part of the result, making every medal individual. This is a modern silver tribute to an ancient design, not an ancient coin.

Note to collectors: Being hand fabricated and hot struck, these medals will exhibit some small irregularities that are not considered to be detracting. The shape, diameter, and device centering will vary on each item.  Great care is taken to ensure there are no glaring inclusions that might diminish eye-appeal while still remaining true to the nature of the fabrication techniques employed.  

Specifications

• Weight: 2 troy ounces
• Purity: .999 fine silver
• Diameter: approximately 36mm
• Thickness: approximately 5.5mm
• Edge: Rough
• Finish: Antiqued

Explore more designs in our silver round collection.