The Athenian ‘owl’ was the most famous coin of the ancient Greek world. It was struck from silver mined at Laurion during Athens’ golden age, when the Parthenon was built, and paid for the city’s fleet. Athena was the city’s patron goddess, and the owl her sacred bird.
Castings, Coins
KM-994 Athens Athena and Owl Tetradrachm
$12.25
Gold overlay casting pendant. Obverse: head of Athena facing right in a crested Attic helmet. Reverse: an owl standing right with its head facing, an olive sprig and crescent moon behind, and AΘE (‘of the Athenians’). A small modern mark appears near the legend. Inscriptions explained: AΘE (Athe) is short for ‘Athenaion’, Greek for ‘of the Athenians’.
