Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Triton XXI Sessions 1 & 2 9 Jan 2018
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ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 16.95 g, 5h). Head of Athena right, wearing earring, [necklace with pendants], and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent to left, AΘE to right; all within incuse square. Starr p. 74, 1–2; Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597; HGC 4, 1597; SNG Lockett 1839; Dewing –; Kraay & Hirmer 359. EF, lightly toned. 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").