Attica, Owl, AR Tetradrachm - Top conservation !

Product no.: 244716

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Greece, Attica - owl, AR Tetradrachm (5. Jh.v.Chr.) - Top conservation !!

 

Obv.: Head of Athena

Rev.: Owl with olive branch and crescent moon in quadratum incusum

 

EVERY COIN IS UNIQUE !!!  Please note: The coin supplied may differ minimally from the one shown!

You will also receive: an exclusive case and a certificate of authenticity!

 

Historical 

The tetradrachm or tetradrachmon (ancient Greek τετράδραχμον; also tetrachmon) is a coin of four drachms and is considered the most important large silver coin of the states of ancient Greece. Tetradrachms were minted from the end of the 6th century BC until the Roman imperial period; they were even in use in isolated cases until the 3rd century AD. In Athens they were introduced around 530/520 BC. The mass of the tetradrachms was typically between 14 and a good 17 g. A craftsman of the 5th to 4th century BC had to work about four days to produce one tetradrachm.

 

Athena
Athena (honorary title: Pallas Athena) is a goddess of Greek mythology. She is the goddess of wisdom, strategy and battle, art, craftsmanship and manual labour, and of course the patron goddess and namesake of the Greek city of Athens.

 

The Owl 
Descriptions of the owl can already be found in Aristotle, the first scientific treatise in Pliny. In Greece, the owl - more precisely, the little owl (Athene noctua) was well regarded and considered a bird of wisdom, chosen by the goddess Athena, the protector of Athens and goddess of wisdom. On Greek coins, Athena's head was depicted on the obverse. As the heraldic bird, the little owl with olive branch and moon adorned the reverse of the tetradrachms. The coins were therefore also called "owls" for short. Since Athens was very rich and a large number of these "owls" were present there, even today "carrying owls to Athens" means doing something nonsensical or superfluous. The comedy poet Aristophanes coined this saying around 400 BC, which is still known today. The owl was also a protector and accompanied armies to war. In addition, the owl in Greece also symbolised science and prudence.
 
 

The olive branch
According to legend, Heracles brought the wild olive tree to Olympia, where the victors of the games were honoured with its branches. In general, the olive branch, which also adorns Zeus and Athena, is a symbol of victory and peace as well as long-lasting strength and power. 

 

Additional product information

Origin Ancient Greece
Grading EF-BU
Additional specifications Diameter: ca. 20.00 mm
Material Silver
Full weight

ca. 17.16 g

Literature Sear 2526

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