Athenian Coin | Silver Tetradrachm

The Athenian tetradrachm struck between roughly 454 and 404 BC is one of the most recognizable and influential coins of the ancient world. Minted in nearly pure silver, it served not only as the chief currency of Athens but also as an international trade standard throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Its design reflects the civic pride and religious devotion of Athens at the height of its power: on the obverse appears the head of Athena, patron goddess of wisdom and war. Her image projects calm confidence, befitting the city that led the Delian League and dominated the Aegean world during this “Golden Age” of Pericles.

The reverse bears the famous owl of Athena, standing alert beside an olive sprig and crescent moon, with the inscription “ΑΘΕ” (short for “of the Athenians”). The owl, regarded as a creature of foresight and intelligence, became a visual shorthand for Athens itself, so much so that these coins were often called “owls” in trade. The style remained remarkably conservative over the decades, reflecting Athens’ desire for stability and recognizability in commerce. Even after the Peloponnesian War weakened the city, the Athenian tetradrachm’s weight and purity preserved its prestige abroad—a silver emblem of Athenian identity and influence long after its empire began to fade.

Ancient Artifacts guarantees the Authenticity of items sold through a three layer system of protection: 

1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

Your coin will look very similar to the ones shown in the photos. There will always be some variety, given our items are unique historical pieces. The display case included is openable so that you may easily handle and closely observe the artifact.If for whatever reason you get anything that does not fit this description you are entitled to your money back! 

Most surviving Athenian tetradrachms have been unearthed far beyond the city of Athens itself. Because the coin served as a dominant trade currency throughout the ancient world, hoards have been discovered from Egypt and the Levant to Persia, Sicily, and the shores of the Black Sea—wherever Athens traded or paid mercenaries during its imperial peak. Many pieces were recovered from buried hoards sealed during times of conflict, hidden by merchants or soldiers who never returned. Others have emerged from controlled archaeological excavations or, more commonly today, from long-documented collections dispersed through major European and American numismatic dealers.

Their survival in such large numbers owes much to the sheer scale of Athenian minting. During the fifth century BC, the city struck millions of these coins, each in nearly pure silver, using metal drawn from the Laurion mines. Silver resists corrosion remarkably well, so even coins buried for over two millennia often retain crisp detail and luster. As a result, despite their age and historic prestige, it remains entirely possible for collectors today to legally own an authentic Athenian tetradrachm—one of antiquity’s most iconic pieces of silver.