Athena on the obverse of their coins was the divinity of attica. The tetradrachm was an ancient greek silver coin equivalent to four drachmae. Athenian owls, thick, heavy, highrelief silver coins minted more than 2,000 years ago, were arguably the most influential of all coins, and the classical owl tetradrachm, pictured above, is the most widely recognized ancient coin among the general public today. I hope this thread can turn into something positive about athenian owl tetradrachms. Category includes athens, athenian cleruchs of delos, eleusis, and oropus. They span hundreds of years and thousands of miles across the ancient world. A portrait of athena reflects the heroic portraiture of the period. Your search for athens tetradrachm owl matched 71 lots. Attica owl ancient coins athenian empire coins buy ancient owl. Whereas the old athenian tetradrachms tended to weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 17. New tetradrachm overview the new style of athenian owlsocalled due to the iconic image of athenas owl on the reverseoriginated in a greece newly conquered by the romans. President theodore roosevelt kept an owl tetradrachm in his pocket and was inspired to order the redesign of the u.
The athenian drachma, a long tradition from antique coin to. Some fake owls were made with test cuts under the plating probably on the theory that people would accept that cut as evidence that the coin was good when in fact both the coin and the test were equally bogus. The reverse with the iconic coat of arms of athens, the little owl. On the front, it depicts athena goddess of wisdom and athens and on the reverse it depicts her symbol, the owl with an owl branch. Silver tetradrachm, sng cop 31, sng munchen 49, kroll 8, dewing 1611, gulbenkian 519, hgc 4 1597, sgcv i 2526, ef, mint luster, high relief, flow lines, typical tight flan, light marks, tiny edge cracks, weight 17. Greece, athens, 5th century bc tetradrachm owl reverse 1941. Athens silver owl tetradrachm ngc choice mint state 5x5. The most famous coin known to man the athenian owl silver tetradrachm july 3, 2009 posted by john in uncategorized. This bestselling hardback book features over pages of the greatest coins of the ancient world.
Tetradrachm of athens with head of athena talisman symbols. Dec 20, 20 you have an athenian tetradrachm the coins usually seen date from 4494 bc. Athenian owls, as they were called, were minted in athens for over four hundred years, beginning in the 510s b. Athens didnt have a logo like the famous spqr of rome. From the athenian tetradrachm to the euro studies in banking and financial history 9780754653899. The object identified as an athenian tetradrachm was an ancient greek silver coin with a weight equivalent to four drachmae, used as payment for soldiers or in international.
Aug 29, 2018 new tetradrachm overview the new style of athenian owlsocalled due to the iconic image of athenas owl on the reverseoriginated in a greece newly conquered by the romans. Jul 03, 2009 the most famous coin known to man the athenian owl silver tetradrachm july 3, 2009 posted by john in uncategorized. Ancient coins the most famous coin of antiquity the. All or part of the owl design has been featured on many interesting pieces over the years, with those below being just a small sampling. The owl silver coinage ended in the middle of the first century bc, but some athenian bronzes featuring an owl continued well into roman imperial times until the end of ancient athenian coinage c. This offer includes a free hardcover reference book on the 100 greatest ancient coins, by harlan j. Athena was the goddess of war and the protector of cities. Athens greece 440bc ancient silver greek tetradrachm coin. These hefty silver coins became a recognized standard of value throughout the ancient world. The tetradrachm was an ancient greek coin made from silver. The first being the owl coin is the origin of the phrase heads or tails, as this was the very first coin to have a head on the obverse, and a tail on the reverse, birthing a term we still use 2,400 years later. The athenian owl tetradrachm played an essential role in athens rise to greatness.
Ancient greek coins from the region of attica, modernday attic peninsula of greece, projecting into the aegean sea. This month, ngc ancients traces the development of athenian tetradrachms, popularly referred to as owls, during the period c. A vf fine example of the classic ancient athenian coin. This silver greek coin remained unchanged for nearly two centuries and is one of the most iconic ancient greek coins. The owl of athena even became the common obverse of the athenian tetradrachms after 510 bc and according to philochorus, the athenian tetradrachm was known as glaux, little owl throughout the ancient world and owl in presentday numismatics. Minerva, also referred to aspallas athena, is the goddess of war, civilization, wisdom, strength, strategy, crafts, justice and skill in greek mythology. Up for sale here is an excellentancient greece athens athena and owl tetradrachm 454404 bc, 17. Ancient athens greece athena owl tetradrachm coin 440404 bc ngc choice xf. During that golden age, it struck the most famous of all ancient coins. Ancient greek silver tetradrachm coins for sale antiquities. Own an ancient greek coin, and youll truly hold history in your hands. Although the reference to athens has disappeared in favour of europe, the link between both coins of historic importance, the 5th century bc tetradrachm and the euro of today, is still strongly present thanks to the owl and the olive branch. As youll see, much later the classical owl tetradrachm was widely remembered, and honored, on coinage and elsewhere. On the obverse, there is the goddess athena head facing to the right with a crested helmet in the most modern series crowned with an olive branch.
The athenian decadrachm is the first monograph in over 35 years in any language to study the coinage of classical athens. The letters are alpha, theta, epsilon and are the abbreviation for the citystate. In athens it replaced the earlier heraldic type of didrachms and it was in wide circulation from c. It wasnt until the coinage of alexander the great that a portrait of the ruler was stamped onto. Get the best deals on athens owl tetradrachm when you shop the largest online selection at. Owl with pronged tail and closed wings, olive spray, lunar crescent. Whether you prefer the history of an owl from the archaic period, the grandeur of an owl from the classic period, or the art from the hellenistic period, mcm has the athenian owls you want.
The reverse of this tetradrachm depicts an owl standing right, with a crescent moon and olive branch over its shoulder. Ancient owl art an owl medal in honor of athena see more. Although the style evolved, the coins retained the same basic design of athena on the obverse and her patron owl on the reverse. Athens greece athena owl tetradrachm coin 454404 bc xf with test mark. Issued by athens as a semiautonomous city under roman rule. The object identified as an athenian tetradrachm was an ancient greek silver coin with a weight equivalent to four drachmae, used as payment for soldiers or in international trade, and was in wide circulation from 510 bc until 38 bc.
During the fifth century bc, when athens emerged as the greatest of all greek cities, owls were the most widely used international coin and helped to spread greek culture throughout the mediterranean world. It collects for the first time the evidence for the largest denomination ever produced by the athenian state, the tendrachma piece, and situates the coinage within its social, political, and economic background. For centuries, athens was one of the most powerful and respected citystates in the aegean the pinnacle of culture in the ancient world. Athens written in ancient greek, owl standing threequarters right, olive sprig behind. This is a very scarce athens ar tetradrachm with sharp detail and a nice overall look. Athenian owl, a silver coin minted more than 2000 years ago. Athens greece 440bc ancient silver greek tetradrachm coin athena owl ngc i83830. Silver tetradrachm coin at the museum of fine arts of lyon depicting the owl of athena. Its worth noting though this is the first commonly accepted coin to have heads athena and tails the owl. Jun 14, 2014 the smaller cut behind the owl barely broke through the silver plating requiring the crossbody cut to be certain that the coin was bad. The vast number of owlstetradrachms available those days mainly from the silver mines.
This transition is supported by the discovery of contemporary coin hoards, and more particularly of a coin hoard found on the acropolis in 1886. It is very difficult to find an athens tetradrachm in such outstanding condition. Tetradrachms of athens have long been one of the most popular series amongst collectors of ancient coins. Feb 21, 2010 ancient athenian owl silver tetradrachm 393 300 b.
Jul 12, 2011 whereas the old athenian tetradrachms tended to weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 17. History thus corroborates the teaching of the conception that only in the maturity of. You have an athenian tetradrachm the coins usually seen date from 4494 bc. The most famous of ancient coins, the silver tetradrachm 4drachm piece of. To access the full database of over 5 million records, please consult coinarchives pro. The athenian owl silver tetradrachm is unquestionably one of the most influential coins of all time. The athens owl tetradrachm, struck in 440 bc, is listed as coin number 10 out of 100. The athenian owl coin is a prolific coin in history for multiple reasons. Attica coins for sale buy attica coins from the most. The transition from didrachms to tetradrachms occurred during c. This coin was introduced in the pentecontaetia, the fifty years, from 479431 bc during which athens force strengthened, turning it into an imperial power capable of standing against sparta and her peloponnesian allies.
Ancient athenian owl coinage, ancient imitations and counterfeits, and modern fakes and copies that honor the ancient owl design totem animal symbolism of owl. Many different kinds of coins are considered ancient greek coins, including ptolemaic bronzes and athenian silver owls. Teddy roosevelt was known to carry an athenian owl in. Ancient coins the most famous coin of antiquity the athenian owl. Mar 30, 2020 this particular coin is an early transitional tetradrachm, part of a group of coins minted from the late 470s through to the early 450s bce, around the same time as the famous athenian. In greek mythology, a little owl athene noctua traditionally represents or accompanies athena. If i find some others id like to purchase i will post here first thanks everyone. Search for athens tetradrachm owl in upcoming auctions at. The athenian tetradrachma knows a very long history and today it enjoys a second life as euro coin.
Ancient greekromanstyle silver charms, necklaces and rings. But to anyone in the ancient world, this coin face instantly screamed athens. For this reason, the classical owl silver tetradrachm was trusted from kingdom to kingdom and were used by noted individuals such as pythagoras, democritus, hippocrates, socrates, plato, aristotle, euclid, archimedes. Athenian owl silver tetradrachm is considered to be one of the most recognizable coins in history because they were the first widely used coins in international trade. The obverse with the helmeted head of athena, in bold archaic style. Athens greece 455bc ancient silver greek tetradrachm coin.
Introduction to the coinage of alexander the great. The athenians minted the thick and heavy athenian owl tetradrachm, which remains the most recognizable ancient coin to this day. The athenian owl has to be one of the most remarkable of the ancient greek coins. The last of the athenian owls were minted sometime during the middle of the first century b. This is an important time in the history of ancient greece, and these silver tetradrachm are a fine reflection. This coin is probably one of the most popular coins in ancient greece. The smaller cut behind the owl barely broke through the silver plating requiring the crossbody cut to be certain that the coin was bad.
An athenian silver owl tetradrachm in removable antique wood mount. This is a very scarce athens ar tetradrachm with sharp detail and attractive surfaces. An archaic silver tetradrachm from athens, dating to around 490 bc. Colin kraay in his 1976 book archaic and classical greek coins contended that the. The owl the socalled owl was a silver coin weighing about 16. Attica owl coins are made of ancient silver for coin collectors who want to buy ancient greek silver coins from ancient attica greece. The most famous coin known to man the athenian owl silver. Athens in central greece was a great cultural and political center throughout the 5th century b. Ancient greek silver owl tetradrachm from athens, 454 bc at. Ancient greek coins are one of the most popular ancient coin types to collect. Athenian new style owl tetradrachm ancient coins, coin art.
The ancient athenial owl tetradrachm has been honored as well in modern times by makers of exonumia medals, tokens, and commemorative coins. Hand struck over 2,400 years ago in the great greek city of athens, this coin tops the most famous of all coins. The owl, symbolizing wisdom, is the symbol of the ancient greek citystate of athens. The obverse with the helmeted head of athena facing right, the reverse with an owl standing right, head facing, a. This particular coin is an early transitional tetradrachm, part of a group of coins minted from the late 470s through to the early 450s bce, around the same time as the famous athenian. The athenian tetradrachm had the head of the goddess athena stamped on its obverse and the owl of athena on its reverse.
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