Ancient Greek Owl Coin Pendant

Coin: Silver Drachm
Obverse: Hera-Tyche facing right, wearing a mural crown.
Reverse:  A front-facing owl with spread wings, standing on a shield.
Date: c. 300 -125 B.C.
Bezel: Sterling Silver
Weight:  5.57 grams
Diameter: 1.6 cm / .62 in

Description

This item is an authentic ancient Greek coin, placed in a handmade bezel of sterling silver. There is only 1 of this item; you will receive the exact pendant shown in the photos.  

Chain necklaces can be purchased separately through this link.

History of the Artifact

This silver drachm was struck in the ancient Greek city of Amisos, located on the southern coast of the Black Sea in modern-day Samsun, Turkey, during the Hellenistic period, circa 300–125 BC. Amisos was an important commercial port connecting the Greek cities of the Black Sea with the interior of Anatolia, benefiting from maritime trade and its strategic coastal position. The obverse depicts Hera-Tyche facing right, wearing a distinctive mural crown resembling the towers and battlements of a fortified city. Tyche was the Greek goddess of fortune and prosperity, while the mural crown symbolized the protection, strength, and prosperity of the city itself.

The reverse features an owl facing forward with its wings spread, perched upon a round shield. The owl was traditionally associated with Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, while the shield emphasized military strength and civic defense. This distinctive combination had appeared on earlier coinage of Amisos, demonstrating the city's attachment to its established symbols and artistic traditions. By pairing the familiar owl and shield with the portrait of Hera-Tyche, these Hellenistic drachms expressed both the protective power of the gods and the civic identity of Amisos during a period of changing political influences throughout the Black Sea region.

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.

You will receive the exact coin pendant which is shown in the photos.

In antiquity, silver drachms from Amisos circulated throughout the Black Sea region, where they were used in trade, accumulated as savings, and sometimes buried for safekeeping during periods of political instability. Many remained hidden for centuries when their owners never returned, while the durability of silver helped preserve their distinctive portraits, owls, and inscriptions. Surviving examples often originate from ancient coin hoards and individual finds across northern Anatolia and the surrounding Black Sea region. These coins enter the modern numismatic trade through legally recovered finds, older private collections, and established dealers and auctions. From there, they are examined, authenticated, and cataloged before being distributed as genuine artifacts of the ancient Greek world.