Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 105 10 May 2017
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ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 17.15 g, 2h). Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597. Near EF, toned. Well centered, attractive early 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 "frontal eye"/classical tetradrachms of the mid-late 5th century at Athens, as these features more closely resemble those 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 "frontal eye"/classical tetradrachms of the mid-late 5th century at Athens, as these features more closely resemble those found on the early-mid 5th century issues ("Starr groups").