Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 535 29 Mar 2023
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ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 17.15 g, 7h). Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye / Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers; olive spray and crescent to left; all within incuse square. Starr pl. XXIII, 1–3'; Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597. Lightly toned, minor edge splits, some minor marks on obverse. Good VF. Well struck. Early post-454 issue.
The certain elements of the style of this tetradrachm, particularly the palmette on Athena's helmet and the stance of the owl, suggest 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 later groups of early-mid 5th century issues analyzed by Chester Starr.
The certain elements of the style of this tetradrachm, particularly the palmette on Athena's helmet and the stance of the owl, suggest 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 later groups of early-mid 5th century issues analyzed by Chester Starr.