Tetradrachm: Head of Athena (obverse); Owl (reverse)
449–440 BC
Maker Unknown
Greek and Roman Art
Tetradrachm: Head of Athena (obverse); Owl (reverse), 449–440 BC. Greek, minted at Athens (Attica). Silver; diameter: 2.3 cm (7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Dr. Jacob Hirsch 1941.296 Incorporating the first three letters of the city name—ΑΘΕ—with then-iconic images of the patron goddess Athena and her owl, the Athenian tetradrachm was among the most widely traded and most recognizable coins of the ancient world. The olive leaves on Athena’s helmet and the small crescent moon behind the owl date this coin after the Persian Wars. The images of Athena and her owl unmistakably identify this coin as Athenian.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Coins
- Formatted Medium
- silver
- Medium
- silver
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 2.3 cm (7/8 in.)
- Inscribed
- Inscription: ΑΘΕ Translation: ATHE, indicates that this coin is from Athens Remark: Reverse
- Departments
- Greek and Roman Art
- Accession Number
- 1941.296
- Credit Line
- Gift of Dr. Jacob Hirsch
- Exhibitions
- Stamps: Art in Miniature, Stories From Storage
- Rights Statement
- CC0
Have a concern, a correction, or something to add?
