440-404 B.C. Athenian Owl Silver Tetradrachm

For centuries, Athens was one of the most powerful and respected city-states in the Aegean – the pinnacle of culture in the ancient world. During that golden age, it struck the most famous of all ancient coins: the Athenian Owl Tetradrachm of 449-413 B.C. These hefty silver coins became a recognized standard of value throughout the ancient world. Struck on thick blanks, they feature high-relief designs. On the obverse is Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, and on the reverse is her symbol, the owl. These nearly pure silver coins may have paid the craftsmen who built the Parthenon. If you only have one ancient in your collection, this should be it!