AR Tetradrachm 500-490 BC v. Chr. ATTIKA, ATHENE (ATHENS) - circa 500-490 BC Many thousands of Athens tetradrachms have survive

weight 16,97gr. | Ø 22mm.

obv. Archaic head of Athena right wearing crested helmet decorated
with chevron and dot pattern
rev. Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig behind, ΑΘΕ before

One of the most historically fascinating and collectable ancient Greek coins.
A genuine archaic Athens tetradrachm, dating to around 490 BC.

Athens was one of the few Greek cities with significant silver deposits in their immediate territory, a remarkable stroke of fortune upon which Xenophon reflected: ′The Divine Bounty has bestowed upon us inexhaustible mines of silver, and advantages which we enjoy above all our neighbouring cities, who never yet could discover one vein of silver ore in all their dominions.′ The mines at Laurion had been worked since the bronze age, but it would be only later in 483 that a massive new vein of ore would be discovered that enabled Athens to finance grand new schemes such as the construction of a fleet of 200 triremes, a fleet that would later prove decisive in defending Greece at the Battle of Salamis.

This coin was produced in the period before the discovery of the new deposits at Laurion, around the time of the Ionian Revolt and the subsequent first Persian invasion of Greece. Athens aided the Ionian Greeks in their rebellion against Persian tyranny with both coin and soldiers, participating in the 498 BC march on Sardes which resulted in the capture and sack of that city – the only significant offensive action taken by the Ionians, who were pushed back onto the defensive and eventually subjugated once more. Vowing to punish Athens for their support of the doomed rebellion, the Persian king Darius launched an invasion of Greece, landing at Marathon in 490 BC. Just twenty five miles from Athens, a vastly outnumbered Athenian hoplite army inflicted a crushing defeat on the Persians, who after suffering horrendous casualties turned to their ships and fled.

The obverse with a wonderful portrait of the patron deity of Athens, the goddess Athena. Athena is depicted in the finest and most captivating archaic style, with full lips, sweeping brow and the powerful frontal eye. The goddess wears a large round earring and ornately decorated, crested helmet, from under which her hair falls in thick, tight curls.

The reverse with the iconic coat of arms of Athens, the little owl. The bird is presented as a plump little creature, starring quizzically at the beholder, an olive sprig shown in the top left field and the abbreviated name of the city in the right, reading: AOE (″Athens″)
This charming coin survives from one of the most historically exciting periods in world history, the early 5th Century BC. This was the Golden Age of Athens, a time when the great city would lead Greece to victory against the might of the Persian Empire, develop the world′s first democratic system and become the most influential centre for the arts and philosophy.

Many thousands of Athens tetradrachms have survived to modern times but the present coin is one of the highly coveted and much scarcer early issues, minted at the beginning of the century. Well struck and centred, from dies of fine style, and it has a handsome patina. Very rare.

Seltman group G (cf. no.230) | cf. Asyut group IV | cf.SNG.Copenhagen19-20
cf. Svoronos plate 4,6 | Kraay Plate 10,183 (page 61-62) RR
(cf. NAC auction 96, lot 1065, vf/xf  CHF 32.000 + 20%)
In hand much nicer than on the images.
vf

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