Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 103 14 September 2016
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ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.02 g, 11h). Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597. Good VF, lightly toned, underlying luster. Fine compact style.
The particular style of the palmette on Athena's helmet, and the narrow, deep incuse of the reverse suggests that this coin was among the earliest issues in the ubiquitous "fontal eye"/classical tetradrachms of the mid-late 5th century at Athens, as these feature more closely represent that found on the early-mid 5th century issues ("Starr groups").
The particular style of the palmette on Athena's helmet, and the narrow, deep incuse of the reverse suggests that this coin was among the earliest issues in the ubiquitous "fontal eye"/classical tetradrachms of the mid-late 5th century at Athens, as these feature more closely represent that found on the early-mid 5th century issues ("Starr groups").