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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Greece| ▸ |Athens||View Options:   | | | The ancient slang names for the coins of Athens were "owls" and "girls" (but in Greek of course). "Owls" were so popular as a central currency of the ancient world that the "old style" design remained essentially unchanged and somewhat archaic long after other cities began to produce coins of with more refined artistry. The Athens types were so popular, numerous imitatives were struck in the Levant, Egypt and elsewhere (we include those on this page too). Under Roman rule, as a semi-autonomous city, Athens struck "new style" (Hellenic style) tetradrachms. "Owls" are still very popular - for ancient Greek coin collectors, they are perhaps the most popular ancient coin type. |
This book has leading analysis and coverage of Athenian Coinage from 480 BCE. Hundreds of coins illustrated on 26 full page plates. A must have book for the collector of Greek Coins!BK13466. Athenian Coinage by Chester G. Starr, reprint of the original 1970 version, 95 pages, 26 plates, paperback, used, good condition; SOLD
Athens, Attica, c. 190 - 183 B.C.
GB39086. Bronze chalkous, Kroll 85, SNG Cop 449, F, dark patina, weight 1.725 g, maximum diameter 11.3 mm, die axis 0o, Athens mint, obverse cicada; reverse AΘE, amphora, palm behind; very rare; SOLD
Athens, Attica, Greece, c. 340 - 317 B.C.
By the mid-4th century B.C., the Kingdom of Macedon was becoming dominant in Athenian affairs. In 338 B.C. the armies of Philip II defeated an alliance of some of the Greek city-states including Athens and Thebes at the Battle of Chaeronea, effectively ending Athenian independence. Later, under Rome, Athens was given the status of a free city because of its widely admired schools. The Roman emperor Hadrian, in the 2nd century A.D., ordered the construction of a library, a gymnasium, an aqueduct which is still in use, several temples and sanctuaries, a bridge and financed the completion of the Temple of Olympian Zeus.GB91526. Bronze AE 12, HGC 4 1736 (S), Kroll 41 - 43, F, rough corrosion, weight 1.921 g, maximum diameter 12.4 mm, die axis 225o, Athens mint, c. 340 - 317 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right, eye in profile, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with olive leaves; reverse A/ΘE, double-bodied owl standing facing, olive spray above, Eleusis ring below; from the Maxwell Hunt Collection; SOLD
GB38794. Bronze AE 16, BMC Attica p. 101, 730, F, weight 2.543 g, maximum diameter 15.6 mm, die axis 180o, Athens mint, obverse helmeted bust of Athena right; reverse AΘH, owl standing right, head facing, olive spray behind; SOLD
American Numismatic Society Museum Notes 26 (1981)
Includes the following articles:
Kroll, J.H. From Wappenmünzen to Gorgoneia to owls
Thompson, M. The Cavalla hoard (IGCH 450)
Martin, T.R. A third-century B.C. hoard from Thessaly at the ANS (IGCH 168)
Mathisen, R.W. Antigonus Gonatas and the silver coinages of Macedonia c. 280-270 B.C.
Weiskopf, M. The Kuh Dasht hoard and the Parthian "Dark Age"
McLean, M.D. The initial coinage of Alexander Jannaeus
Harl, K.W. Caracalla or Elagabalus? The imperial imago at the Greek mint of Magnesia ad Maeandrum
Metcalf, W.E. A corrigendum to The Cistophori of Hadrian
Kaiser-Raiss, M.R. Posthumous Hadrianic medallions?
Malandra, G. Transitional style in the Siva images on Kusana gold coins
Bates, M.L. The Ottoman coinage of Tilimsa
Varriano, J.L. Some documentary evidence on the restriking of early Papal medals
BK11652. Museum Notes 26, American Numismatic Society (ANSMN 26), 1981, 223 pages, 32 plates, paperback, good condition, faded cover, bent corner (only one used copy available), only one copy available; SOLD
Athens, Attica, Greece, c. 186 - 86 B.C., New Style Tetradrachm
The "New Style" tetradrachms were issued by Athens as a semi-autonomous city under Roman rule. The new-style Owls are markedly different from the Owls of Periclean Athens or the "eye in profile" Athena head of the Fourth Century. They were struck on thinner, broad flans, typical of the Hellenistic period, with a portrait of Athena that reflected the heroic portraiture of the period. The owl now stands on an amphora, surrounded by magistrates' names and symbols, all within an olive wreath. The amphora is marked with a letter that may indicate the month of production. Letters below the amphora may indicate the source of the silver used in production.SH05479. Silver tetradrachm, SGCV I 2556 variety, VF, weight 16.55 g, maximum diameter 31.6 mm, die axis 0o, Athens mint, c. 106 - 105 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena Parthenos right, triple-crested helmet ornamented with Pegasos; reverse owl standing on amphora marked with B, A-ΘE across fields, magistrates ΘΕOΔOTOΣ and ΔΗMOΣ left, KΛΕOΦANΗΣ r., ME below, all within olive wreath; SOLD
Athens, Attica, Greece, c. 106 - 105 B.C., New Style Tetradrachm
SH03348. Silver tetradrachm, SGCV I 2556 variety, Choice gVF, weight 16.80 g, maximum diameter 30.7 mm, die axis 0o, Athens mint, c. 106 - 105 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right, wearing triple-crested helmet ornamented with Pegasos; reverse owl standing on amphora marked with B, A-ΘE across fields, magistrates ΘΕOΔOTOΣ and ΣΗMOΣ left, KΛΕOΦANΗΣ right, ME below, all within olive wreath; SOLD
Athens, Attica, Greece, c. 393 - 300 B.C.
GS03424. Silver hemidrachm, SGCV I 2528, SNG Cop 68, weight 2.10 g, maximum diameter 11.7 mm, Athens mint, c. 393 - 300 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena right (off center, back of helmet visible); reverse A / Q - E (in a clockwise circle with the A at 12:00), owl standing facing, olive branches right and left; SOLD
Athens, Attica, Greece, c. 286 - 262 B.C., Transitional Quadridigité Style Tetradrachm
The quadridigité style is named for the shape of the end of the floral ornament on the helmet, which resembles four fingers on a hand. The significant stylistic differences from the preceding pi-style, indicate the mint was probably closed under the domination of Athens by Macedonia, 294 - 286 B.C. The quadridigité style was probably first issued c. 286 when Athens joined the anti-Macedonian coalition in revolt against Antigonus Gonatas and received a gift of silver from Ptolemy of Egypt. The end came when Athens was besieged during the Chremonidean War, beginning c. 263 and starved into surrender c. 262 B.C. SH03374. Silver tetradrachm, Flament p. 133; SNG Munchen 145; Svoronos Athens pl. 23, 2-3; Kroll 22a - b; SNG Cop -; SNG Delepierre -, aVF, weight 17.1 g, maximum diameter 21.3 mm, die axis 180o, Athens mint, c. 286 - 262 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right with eye in profile, wearing crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and floral scroll; reverse AΘE to right, large letters, owl standing right, head facing, to the left an olive sprig and crescent; ; SOLD
Athens, Attica, Greece, c. 454 - 404 B.C., Old Style Tetradrachm
The old-style tetradrachm of Athens is famous for its almond shaped eye, archaic smile, and charming owl reverse. Around 480 B.C. a wreath of olive leaves and a decorative scroll were added to Athena's helmet. On the reverse, a crescent moon was added.
During the period 449 - 413 B.C. huge quantities of tetradrachms were minted to finance grandiose building projects such as the Parthenon and to cover the costs of the Peloponnesian War.SL97987. Silver tetradrachm, SNG Cop 31, SNG Munchen 49, Kroll 8, Dewing 1611, Gulbenkian 519, HGC 4 1597, SGCV I 2526, NGC Ch MS (Choice Mint State), strike 5/5, surface 5/5 (6156171-006), weight 17.198 g, maximum diameter 26.0 mm, die axis 90o, Athens mint, c. 440 - 404 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right, almond shaped eye, crested helmet with olive leaves and floral scroll, wire necklace, round earring, hair in parallel curves; reverse owl standing right, head facing, erect in posture, olive sprig and crescent left, AΘΕ downward on right, all within incuse square; ex Classical Numismatic Group, NGC| Lookup; SOLD
Athens, Attica, Greece, c. 454 - 449 B.C., Very Early "Old Style" Tetradrachm
On this coin and all classic "old style" tetradrachms struck c. 454 - 404 B.C., the owl's tail feathers are represented by a single prong. On Athens' earlier issues, the owl's tail is composed of three separate feathers. Other than the single prong tail, this coin closely resembles the preceding issues of Starr Group V, in particular the palmette and olive leaves on Athena's helmet, and the narrow, deep incuse of the reverse. It is very likely this coin was among the earliest of the classical "old style" tetradrachms of the c. 545 - 404 B.C. issues.SH87206. Silver tetradrachm, some characteristics of Starr Group V, but a single prong tail; cf. Svoronos Athens pl. 10, 16 - 18; Starr pl. XXII, 1 - 3; SNG Munchen 46, Choice aEF, bold high relief, flow lines, light toning, bumps and marks, tight flan, edge cracks, weight 17.143 g, maximum diameter 24.2 mm, die axis 0o, Athens mint, c. 454 - 449 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right, almond shaped eye, crested helmet with olive leaves and floral palmette scroll, wire necklace, round earring, hair in parallel curves; reverse robust owl standing right, head facing, tail of one long prong, olive sprig and crescent left, AΘΕ downward on right, all within incuse square; rare style variant; SOLD
Athens, Attica, Greece, c. 465 - 454 B.C., Transitional Early "Old Style" Tetradrachm
This rare transitional early "old style" type features the most attractive owls of the entire Athenian tetradrachm series.SH86209. Silver tetradrachm, Starr Group V.B, Series 2, 180; Svoronos Athens pl. 10, 9; HGC 4 1596 (R2); SNG Cop -, Choice VF, well centered and struck with high relief dies, superb owl, tight flan cutting off most of crest as usual for the type, bumps and marks, uneven hoard toning, weight 17.143 g, maximum diameter 23.3 mm, die axis 180o, Athens mint, c. 465 - 454 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right, almond shaped eye, crested helmet with olive leaves and floral scroll, wire necklace, round earring, hair in parallel curves; reverse robust owl standing right, head facing, tail composed of three short feathers, olive sprig and crescent left, AΘΕ downward on right, all within incuse square; rare; SOLD
Mesopotamia, Mazaces (satrap under Alexander the Great and Philip III), c. 325 - 315 B.C.
Certificate of Authenticity issued by David R. Sear.
Imitation of a 4th century Athens tetradrachm produced in Mesopotamia, probably under the authority of the Persian satrap Mazaces, whose name appears on some similar issues. He probably received the governorship of a city or district from Alexander as a reward for the peaceful surrender of Egypt in 332 B.C. This example is remarkable in having a head of Athena facing the "wrong" way, i.e. to left instead of to right as on all the prototypes.SH08822. Silver tetradrachm, similar to cf. Mitchiner IGIS vol 1, p. 16 Type 13a 4 (owl also standing left), F, weight 16.85 g, maximum diameter 24.1 mm, die axis 45o, uncertain mint, obverse head of Athena left, wearing earring and helmet ornamented with three olive leaves; reverse AΘE, owl standing right head facing, olive sprig and lunar crescent in upper field to left; heavily oxidized (dark toned) surfaces; unpublished and possibly unique but similar to the attribution ref Mazaces type, Svoronos pl 23, 12 is another left facing Athena (fourree), these are the only known Athens type tetradrachms with Athena left; SOLD
Philistia or Arabia, Imitative Athenian Pi-Style Tetradrachm, c. 350 - 330 B.C.
| This coin is from the hoard containing at least 76 Athenian-type owls, both Athenian issues and Egyptian and Levantine imitations, and two silver "dumps" cataloged and discussed by Peter G. van Alfen, in "A New Athenian "Owl" and Bullion Hoard from the Near East" in AJN 16-17 (2004-05), pp. 47-61, and pl. 6-13. The hoard is rumored to have come from the western coast of the Arabian Peninsula. |  |
Levant, Egypt, or Arabia, Imitative Athenian Transitional Style Tetradrachm, c. 390 - 330 B.C.
| This coin is from the hoard containing at least 76 Athenian-type owls, both Athenian issues and Egyptian and Levantine imitations, and two silver "dumps" cataloged and discussed by Peter G. van Alfen, in "A New Athenian "Owl" and Bullion Hoard from the Near East" in AJN 16-17 (2004-05), pp. 47-61, and pl. 6-13. The hoard is rumored to have come from the western coast of the Arabian Peninsula. On page 58, Van Alfen identifies this coin as a non-Athenian, an imitative. | |
Egypt or Philistia, Imitative of Athenian Old Style Tetradrachm, c. 420 - 380 B.C.
Characteristics that indicate this coin is an imitation from Egypt or Philistia include the following: - The letters are abnormally thick. - The central dot in the theta is missing. - The palmette is abnormally thick and the petals curl back. - Two countermarks from the near east. - The line down the neck along the edge of the neckguard is solid and thick, official issues have a line of pearls or a thinner line. GS42595. Silver tetradrachm, cf. SNG Cop 31, SNG Munchen 49, Kroll 8, Dewing 1611, Gulbenkian 519, HGC 4 1597, SGCV I 2526 (Athens), VF, test cuts, banker, weight 16.935 g, maximum diameter 24.1 mm, die axis 270o, Athens mint, obverse head of Athena right, droopy eye, crested helmet with olive leaves and bent-back palmette, wire necklace, round earring, hair in parallel curves; reverse owl standing right, head facing, erect in posture, olive sprig and crescent left, AΘΕ downward on right, all within incuse square; SOLD
Abdera, Thrace, 386 - 375 B.C.
In 408 B.C., Abdera was brought under the dominion of Athens. Sacked by Thracian tribes in 376 B.C., the town survived due to the Athenian support.SH19465. Silver tetrobol, May Abdera 456, SNG Cop 338, aEF, weight 2.793 g, maximum diameter 14.41 mm, die axis 180o, Abdera (Greece) mint, magistrate Athinis, 386 - 375 B.C.; obverse griffin leaping/flying left; reverse A-ΘH/N-HΣ, stag standing left within incuse square; rare; SOLD
Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Corinth, Corinthia, Greece
RP18836. Bronze AE 21, BMC Corinth p. 69, 562; RPC I 1201, F, green patina, weight 5.516 g, maximum diameter 20.8 mm, die axis 45o, Corinth mint, obverse NERO CLAVD CAESAR [AVG], bare head right; reverse [TI CL]AVDIO OPTATO IIVIR CO[R], Bellerophon striding right, naked, shield in left, with right holds bridle of Pegasos, rearing to left; ex Boston Museum of Fine Arts, with their photos; extremely rare; SOLD
Athens, Attica, Greece, 3rd Century B.C.
The designs of the early Athenian bronzes were apparently copied from the fractions that they replaced. This coin has a similar design to the silver tetrobol. Later bronzes had much lower value, in relation to their size.GB33488. Bronze AE 16, SNG Cop 89 - 92, F, green patina, weight 2.142 g, maximum diameter 15.5 mm, die axis 270o, Athens mint, obverse helmeted head of Athena right; reverse two confronting owls, heads facing, within wreath; SOLD
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