Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 89 5 Nov 2021
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Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 485-480 BC. Archaic head of Athena to right, wearing crested helmet decorated with chevron and dot pattern, and round earring with central boss / Owl standing to right, head facing, olive sprig behind, [ΑΘ]Ε before; all within incuse square. Cf. Seltman Group E, 94 ('Paeonian mint'); cf. Svoronos pl. 4; HGC 4, 1591. 16.72g, 24mm, 9h.
Very Fine; test cuts. Very Rare.
The famous Athenian 'owl' tetradrachm, unquestionably one of the most influential coins of all time, used a basic design that would remain unchanged for nearly five hundred years, be extensively copied throughout the Mediterranean, and is today, as it was then, emblematic of Greek culture.
The quality of the engraving on the early owl tetradrachms varies greatly, from the sublime to some which are very crude indeed. This disparity led Seltman to propose that those tetradrachms of fine style were issues from a 'civic' mint in Athens, while those such as the present piece exhibiting little talent on the part of the engravers emanated from mints in the Attic or Thracian hinterlands, or Paeonia, though this has subsequently been disproven.
Very Fine; test cuts. Very Rare.
The famous Athenian 'owl' tetradrachm, unquestionably one of the most influential coins of all time, used a basic design that would remain unchanged for nearly five hundred years, be extensively copied throughout the Mediterranean, and is today, as it was then, emblematic of Greek culture.
The quality of the engraving on the early owl tetradrachms varies greatly, from the sublime to some which are very crude indeed. This disparity led Seltman to propose that those tetradrachms of fine style were issues from a 'civic' mint in Athens, while those such as the present piece exhibiting little talent on the part of the engravers emanated from mints in the Attic or Thracian hinterlands, or Paeonia, though this has subsequently been disproven.