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The Ancient World’s Wisest Coin
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Country:
Greece |
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Date:
449 - 413 BC |
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Metal:
Silver |
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Denomination:
Tetradrachm
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Weight:
17 g Approx |
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Diameter:
25 mm Approx |
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Condition:
Circulated |
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Obverse:
Head of Athena facing right wearing crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and floral scroll. Her hair is drawn across the forehead in parallel curves.
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Reverse:
Athenian owl standing right, head facing front; tail feathers represented as a single prong. On left, olive-twig and crescent. Legend on right; all within incuse square. Legend, in large even lettering, "A Q E". Test cut, often appearing as wedge, somewhere on coin. Placement varies.
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Packaging:
Capsule, Black Display card |
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Among the earliest coins ever struck with images on both sides, the Athenian Owl is one of the world’s most famous and sought-after coins. When they were struck over 2,400 years ago, people didn’t take a coin’s worth at face value so they made “test cuts” to check its authenticity. Showing the signs of test cuts, these marvelous silver Tetradrachms also depict the goddess Athena on the obverse and the famous Athenian Owl on the incuse reverse. Select “Owls” have sold for $5,000 at auctions, so you’d be wise to take advantage of this offer at a fraction of that price!
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