Athenian Tetradrachm Coin Pendant

Obverse: Head of Athena
Reverse: Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent to left
Coin: Silver Tetradrachma
Date: 454-404 B.C.
Bezel: 14k Gold
Weight:  19.66 grams
Diameter: 25 mm / .98 in

Description

This item is an authentic Athenian silver Tetradrachm, placed in a handmade bezel of 14 karat gold. There is only 1 of this item; you will receive the exact pendant shown in the photos. 

History of the Artifact

During the mid-fifth century B.C., Athens introduced a standardized silver coin that quickly became one of the most recognizable currencies of the ancient world. On the obverse, the coin bore the head of Athena, the city’s patron goddess, wearing her crested helmet decorated with olive leaves and a palmette. The reverse featured her companion, the owl, rendered in a stiff but strikingly clear style, standing beside an olive sprig and the inscription “ΑΘΕ,” short for “of the Athenians.” Its design was simple yet powerful, symbolizing both wisdom and the wealth of Athens, and it remained consistent for decades without major alteration.

These coins were minted in vast quantities between the defeat of the Persians and the end of the Peloponnesian War, funded by the silver from the Laurion mines. Their uniform weight and purity gave them credibility across the Mediterranean, and merchants from Sicily to Egypt accepted them without hesitation. For Athens, this currency was more than a tool of commerce—it was a projection of imperial power. The “owl” tetradrachm carried Athenian influence far beyond Attica, helping to bind the Delian League economically and to fuel the city’s monumental building programs, including the Parthenon. Even today, collectors prize these coins not only for their artistry but also as enduring symbols of Athens’ golden age.

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 pendant shown in the photos.

The silver owls originally came from the Laurion mines in Attica, where Athens extracted vast amounts of silver to fund its empire. After circulation across the Mediterranean, many of these coins ended up buried in hoards or stored in treasuries, and over the centuries they were recovered through archaeological finds, chance discoveries, and old collections. Today, most of the surviving examples are held either in museums or in the hands of private collectors and dealers, with the antiquities trade making them available on the open market.

It is possible for modern collectors to own one because the Athenians struck these coins in enormous numbers during their imperial peak, ensuring that they are far more common than most ancient coin types. When hoards are discovered, they often contain hundreds or even thousands of owls, which enter the market after being legally dispersed. Their abundance compared to rarer coinages means they are accessible to both serious numismatists and casual collectors, making them one of the few classical-era coins that remain relatively affordable and obtainable today.