Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC.
$2,140
NZNDA member
A beautiful, well-entered coin without any major faults. A slight amount of wear is visable on the high points, Athens's hair and the owl's wings.
Obverse: Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palette on bowl, round earrings with central boss, and pearl necklace.
Unlike the vast majority of classical Owl Tetradrachms, the horse-hair crest of Athen's helmet on this specimen is mostly still on the flan. Most classical owl tetradrachms have flans that are too small for the coins full design.
Reverse: Owl standing to right with head facing, olive sprig and crescent behind, AOL before, all within incuse square.
These thick, high-relief coins were known as "Owls", in ancient times and were the world's first great trade currency.
Athena was the daughter of Zeus and the goddess of both wisdom & warfare.
Catalogue: Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31; HGC 4, 1597.
Weight: 17.19g.
Diamater: 23mm.
Width: 6mm.
Grade: aEF.
