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Greek Silver Tetradrachm Athens Owl Coin 449 B.C! browse these categories for related items... All Items: Traditional Collectibles: Numismatics: Coins: Ancient: Greek: Pre AD 1000: item # 1094195 Please refer to our stock # 078AA00 when inquiring.
Marcus Trading Antiquarian Books Cambridge MA 02138 617-710-0953. Guest Book $325.00 "FIRM" |
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| A superb and substantial Greek silver tetradrachm of Athens dating to the 5th Century BC. Good/Fair Condition. This is obviously an authentic Athens Owl with a cut on the front and rear where it was checked in antiquity, to verify it was silver. This coin was in ciculation for quite some time. Even some of the edges were trimmed, as was common during that period to grab a little silver from many coins to sell for weight. This constitutes one of Greece's most famous early coins. On the obverse is the Head of Athena facing to the right. She wears a crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and floral scroll. Her hair is drawn across the forehead in parallel curves. On the reverse is the wise Owl of Athens, standing in an erect posture with head looking directly ahead to the right of the mid-line. The tail feathers are represented as a single prong. The breast feathers are represented as speckles. An inscription to the right of the owl reads : AO. If you look closely at the test cut on the front you can see a tiny bit of rust left from the knife that cut it. | |||||||||||||||
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