The Legendary Athens Silver Owl The Original “Silver Dollar” of the Ancient World!
Athens Owl Silver Tetradrachm
Item # 1803120
Considered by many to be the most beautiful coin ever minted, the Athens Owl was the first fully-sculpted, double-sided coin in the world. Athens was the largest, most important city in ancient Greece – and its symbol was the Owl. This thick, magnificent coin circulated throughout the entire ancient world and was immediately recognized by the Owl, as well as the portrait of the goddess Athena, for whom the city was named.
Obverse portrays the head of Athena; patron goddess of the city of Athens, wearing a crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves - symbolic of Athens’ important export of olive oil. Reverse shows an Owl, Athena’s sacred companion, perched on an olive twig and crescent, placed within an incuse square.
If you only own one ancient coin, it should be the Athens Owl. If you have a collection, it cannot be complete without this amazing coin. The Athens Owl is arguably the most famous and sought-after of all ancient coins. People like Sophocles, Socrates, and Plato used them to buy wine and olive oil in the famous open-air markets of Athens, which was the largest, most important city in ancient Greece - serving as both a commercial center as well as the center of art & literature for the entire western world.
First “Heads & Tails” Coin in History!
The Athens Owl coin was the first-ever coin minted to feature a head on one side and a “tail” design on the other. This is the same popular format we still see today, 2,400 years later, on U.S. and most world coins. These coins were individually hand-struck, making each a miniature work of sculptural art. Struck from the wealth that poured into Athens from her own silver mines as well as from the cities under her rule, the Owl coins are a fitting tribute to the glory of Athens during her ‘Golden Age’. This museum-quality silver treasure can now become an instant heirloom within your own collection.
Since 1981, Collectible America has procured rare coins, secured bullion, and struck medallions for the American numismatic public as an independent private mint, not affiliated with the United States Government. This independence provides the cornerstone for our commitment to excellence in both product and service, and, most important, it guarantees to our customers essential rights and complete satisfaction.
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