Athenian Owl Coin – Silver Tetradrachm – c449-413 BC

Description

Header:  Athenian Owl Coin – Silver Tetradrachm – c449-413 BC

Denomination: Silver Tetradrachm

Period: Ancient Greece

Date: About 450BC of early style

Origin: Attic mint

Condition: VF, the thick flan’s face area is too small for the dies so they are often lost to the edges, our example has some of the crest visible which is a bonus

Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena, facing right

Reverse: Owl standing right, head turned to front, AOE before, olive twig and crescent in left field; ancient graffiti possible Greek letter

Size and Weight: 17.06g, 24mm x 7mm thick

References:  Sear pages 235-238

Features and Provenance: Athena was the goddess of both wisdom and warfare, and the patron goddess of Athens. The owl was Athena’s mascot, so rightly appears on the reverse of these immensely popular coins, both now and then; in fact they were so popular the mint couldn’t keep up with demand and standards fell, hence the off-centred images and thick flans.

The owl is considered to be a Little Owl and the olive sprig alludes to the export of oil, that, along with silver and pottery, accounted for the area’s prosperity. These coins were probably not used for day-to-day purchases due to their worth, but were kept for building works, international trade and gifts. They are very rarely found during archaeological digs of domestic areas.

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between

Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear, all parts of legend etc present, visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief, all parts of legend etc present, but maybe worn

Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible