Tetradrachm: Head of Athena (obverse); Owl (reverse), 449–440 BC. Greek, minted at Athens (Attica). Silver; diameter: cm (7/8 in.). Incorporating the first three letters of the city name—???—with then-iconic images of the patron goddess Athena and her owl, the Athenian tetradrachm was among the most widely traded and most recognizable coins of the ancient world. The olive leaves on Athena’s helmet and the small crescent moon behind the owl date this coin after the Persian Wars.

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Size: 3400px × 1676px
Photo credit: © CMA/BOT / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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