Attica, Athens. Exceptional Tetradrachm. Ancient Greek Silver Coin.
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:360572 | Certification: Uncertified |
| Denomination: Tetradrachm | Date: 454-404 BC |
| City: Athens | Composition: Silver |
Attica, Athens. Exceptional Tetradrachm. Ancient Greek Silver Coin.
Coin Description:ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.11 g, 9h) Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye. / Rev: Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers; olive sprig and crescent to left; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597.
Guarantee:This coin is guaranteed for life to be a genuine ancient coin. Here at Ancient Auctions we have pledged to uphold the... highest ethical standards. Our in-house authentication screens all coins offered for auction or retail sale. Any coin subsequently found to be not authentic may be returned for a full refund of the original purchase price.
History of the Athenian Tetradrachm:The transition from didrachms to tetradrachms occurred during c. 525 - 510 BC; the abandonment of the "heraldic"-type didrachms and the Archaic tetradrachms (early "owls") of the polis of Athens apparently took place shortly after the Battle of Salamis, 480 BC. This transition is supported by the discovery of contemporary coin hoards, and more particularly of a coin hoard found on the Acropolis in 1886.
The Athenian tetradrachm was widely used in transactions throughout the ancient Greek world, including in cities politically unfriendly to Athens. Athens had silver mines in state ownership, which provided the bullion. Most well known were the silver mines of Laurium at a close distance from Athens. The Athenian tetradrachm was stamped with the head of Athena on the obverse, and on the reverse the image of the owl of Athena, the iconographic symbol of the Athenian polis, with a sprig of olive and a crescent for the moon. According to Philochorus, it was known as glaux (little owl) throughout the ancient world and "owl" in present-day English language numismatics. The design was kept essentially unchanged for over two centuries, by which time it had become stylistically archaic. To differentiate their currency from the rival coinage of Aegina using the Aeginetic stater of about 12.3 grams, Athens minted its tetradrachm based on the "Attic" standard of 4.3 grams per drachma. The vast number of "owls-tetradrachms" available those days mainly from the silver mines of Laurium financed the several achievements of Athens, such as the reconstruction of the Acropolis and building the Parthenon, as well as many wars, including the Peloponnesian War.
Combined shipping for multiple orders.
International Buyers - Please Note: Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility.
Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.
Coin Description:ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.11 g, 9h) Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye. / Rev: Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers; olive sprig and crescent to left; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597.
Guarantee:This coin is guaranteed for life to be a genuine ancient coin. Here at Ancient Auctions we have pledged to uphold the... highest ethical standards. Our in-house authentication screens all coins offered for auction or retail sale. Any coin subsequently found to be not authentic may be returned for a full refund of the original purchase price.
History of the Athenian Tetradrachm:The transition from didrachms to tetradrachms occurred during c. 525 - 510 BC; the abandonment of the "heraldic"-type didrachms and the Archaic tetradrachms (early "owls") of the polis of Athens apparently took place shortly after the Battle of Salamis, 480 BC. This transition is supported by the discovery of contemporary coin hoards, and more particularly of a coin hoard found on the Acropolis in 1886.
The Athenian tetradrachm was widely used in transactions throughout the ancient Greek world, including in cities politically unfriendly to Athens. Athens had silver mines in state ownership, which provided the bullion. Most well known were the silver mines of Laurium at a close distance from Athens. The Athenian tetradrachm was stamped with the head of Athena on the obverse, and on the reverse the image of the owl of Athena, the iconographic symbol of the Athenian polis, with a sprig of olive and a crescent for the moon. According to Philochorus, it was known as glaux (little owl) throughout the ancient world and "owl" in present-day English language numismatics. The design was kept essentially unchanged for over two centuries, by which time it had become stylistically archaic. To differentiate their currency from the rival coinage of Aegina using the Aeginetic stater of about 12.3 grams, Athens minted its tetradrachm based on the "Attic" standard of 4.3 grams per drachma. The vast number of "owls-tetradrachms" available those days mainly from the silver mines of Laurium financed the several achievements of Athens, such as the reconstruction of the Acropolis and building the Parthenon, as well as many wars, including the Peloponnesian War.
Combined shipping for multiple orders.
International Buyers - Please Note: Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility.
Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.
