Sorry! This Ancient Greece (Attica, Athens) 454 ~ 405BC Silver Tetradrachm Kroll# 8 good VF has sold.

Ancient Greece (Attica, Athens) 454 ~ 405BC Silver Tetradrachm Kroll# 8 good VF

Region: Attica, Athens

Period: 454~405BC

Diameter: 24.56mm; Weight: 17.10g

Obverse description: Head of Athena to right, wearing disc earring, pearl necklace and a crested Attic helmet adorned with three olive leaves and a pi-style palmette

Reverse description: Owl standing to right, head facing the viewer, olive sprig with berry and crescent moon in upper left field, all within incuse square.

Reverse legend: AOE (Abbreviation for Alpha, Theta, Epsilon)

Translated legend: "Of the Athenians"

References: Kroll 8

Quality Grade:good VF


Wonderful reverse style.

The Athenian "Owl" is widely acknowledged as being one of the most important coins ever struck anywhere in the world. At the time this particular coin was in circulation,  Athens was regarded as the educational and cultural centre of the ancient Greek world.

Athenian silver coinage circulated widely throughout the ancient world, "Owls" such as this one were accepted in trade with confidence in cities quite far from the centre of Athens. "Owls" would have been handled by such notables as Pythagoras, Xenophanes, Democritus, Hippocrates, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Euclid, Archimedes, and others whose thinking formed the very foundation of Western civilization.

The designs featured on either side of the owls speak to the mythology of Athens. As the goddess of warfare and wisdom, Athena was the patron goddess of Athens. The owl was Athena's companion or representative, and to this day is used as a symbol of knowledge and wisdom throughout the Western world.

An "Owl" of Athens is essential to any "type" set of ancient coinage and is a perfect representation of the wealth, leadership and respect that Athens had in the Greek world at the height of its power.

SKU: 27953

Browse our catalog of Archaic Greece below:

Coin Name Reverse Obverse Price Status
Ancient Greece (Attica, Athens) 454 ~ 405BC Silver Tetradrachm Kroll# 8 good VF Ancient Greece (Attica, Athens) 454 ~ 405BC Silver Tetradrachm Kroll# 8 good VF Ancient Greece (Attica, Athens) 454 ~ 405BC Silver Tetradrachm Kroll# 8 good VF $1,750.00
Last sold for this price on 2/11/2019
Sold More Details
Looking to sell?

We're Always Buying!

We need to buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of coins and notes each and every week of the year.

If you'd like to turn all or part of your collection into cash, get in touch with our expert staff and we'll be happy to start working on a deal with you.

We're Buying

Australian Gold Coins

We have extensive experience in handling all Australian gold soveriegns and halves, from the Adelaide Pounds of 1852 right through to the last coins of George V of 1931. All of the Australian gold coins in our online shop are described in detail with high resolution images.

Buy Gold Coins Here

Coins

At Sterling & Currency, we specialize in handling Australian coins dating from our nation's settlement in 1788 through to the introduction of decimal currency in 1966. We have an extensive range in our online store of Australian gold, copper and silver coins.

Buy Collectible Coins Here

Decimal Coins

The Australian proof and UNC coins struck by the Perth Mint and the Royal Australian Mint are the most accessible coins available to collectors today. If you're not able to find a particular coin that you're keen to add to your collection, let us know and we'll be contact you when it becomes available.

Buy Decimal Coins Here