Silver Tetradrachm, Athens, 449-404 BCE

Silver Tetradrachm, Athens, 449-404 BCE; Reverse: Owl with olive spray and small crescent. Inscription ΑΘΕ (ATHE = abbreviation for “of the Athenians”).
Unidentified Artist, Greek

Type/Object Name: Ob:Helmeted head of Athena with olive leaves and a floral scroll. | Re: Owl with olive spray and small crescent. Inscription 螒螛螘 (鈥淎THE鈥 = abbreviation for 鈥渙f the Athenians鈥).

Dates: 449-404 BCE

Medium: Silver, Tetradrachm

Dimensions: Diameter聽23.0 mm, Weight 17.1855 g

Credit Line: Courtesy of John Nebel

Notes: Modern

Athens was a powerful and influential cultural and military center in ancient Greece. The obverse of their coins portrays the head of the city鈥檚 patron goddess Athena. This coin has olive leaves on her helmet; the leaves are a reference to Athens鈥 victory over the Persians in 479 BCE. The reverse shows the goddess鈥 bird, an owl, and her gift to Athens, an olive sprig. The owl and olive branch on the reverse of this coin formed the inspiration for the reverse of the Panama-Pacific commemorative $50 coin that is included in this exhibit. On the 20th-century coin, however, the owl is a Great Horned owl, and the branches are western North American pine trees.

Collection: Coin, John Nebel

Bibliography: 1944. Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals Danish National Museum. Attica - Aegina. #31. Copenhagen: Munksgaard; Kroll, John H. 1993. The Athenian Agora. Volume XXVI. The Greek Coins. Page 17 #8and Plate 1 #8. Princeton: The American School of Classical Studies at Athens.