Description: Attica, Athens, AR Tetradrachm (454-405 BCE) Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena right, wearing a crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over the visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl. Reverse: ΑΘΕ – Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind.
History: The Athenian Tetradrachm, often called the “Owl”, was one of the most recognizable and widely used coins of the ancient world. Athens, the intellectual and military powerhouse of classical Greece, issued these coins at the height of its influence during the 5th century BCE. The design symbolizes the city's divine patron, Athena, goddess of wisdom, war, and craftsmanship.
According to myth, Athena sprang fully grown and armored from the forehead of Zeus, becoming his favored child. She gifted the olive tree to the Athenians, securing her place as their protector and the namesake of their city. The Parthenon, Athens' grand temple, was dedicated in her honor.
As a warrior, Athena was the city’s defender. Her sacred bird, the owl, was a symbol of wisdom and protection. The olive sprig references her agricultural gifts, while the crescent moon suggests lunar symbolism.
Athenian Owls were widely accepted across the Mediterranean, used from Egypt to Persia as a reliable trade currency. Coins typically weighed around 17 grams and had diameters from 22-25 mm.
