Silver Athenian Owl Tetradrachm — From the Age of Alexander the Great

Own a Coin from the Final Centuries of Greek Independence

A real Greek silver tetradrachm struck in ancient Athens, featuring the legendary owl that remained one of the most trusted and widely recognized coins of the ancient world.

Weight: 16.9 grams
Diameter: 22 mm
Date: 350–294 BC
Pedigree: Ex Numismatik Naumann Auction 66, Lot 32

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🏛 Struck in ancient Athens over 2,300 years ago
🦉 Features the legendary owl of Athens
⚔ Circulated during the age of Philip II, Alexander the Great, and the Hellenistic kingdoms

Own This Piece of History

Why This Coin Matters

Few coins in history are as famous as the Athenian Owl.

For centuries, Athens struck silver tetradrachms bearing the image of Athena and her sacred owl. Recognized from Egypt to the Black Sea, these coins became one of the ancient world's most trusted trade currencies and remain among the most iconic artifacts of Classical Greece.

The obverse features Athena, goddess of wisdom and patron deity of Athens. Her crested helmet and confident gaze symbolized the city whose philosophers, artists, and statesmen helped shape Western civilization.

The reverse displays Athens' famous owl, sacred to Athena and recognized throughout the Mediterranean as a symbol of the city itself. Beside the owl appear the traditional olive sprig, representing peace and prosperity, the crescent moon, and the inscription ΑΘΕ—short for "of the Athenians."

This particular tetradrachm belongs to one of the most fascinating chapters of Greek history. Struck between 350 and 294 BC, it was minted during the decline of Athens as an independent great power and the rise of Macedon. These coins circulated during the reign of Philip II, the conquests of Alexander the Great, and the struggles of Alexander's successors as they divided his empire into the great Hellenistic kingdoms.

Although Athens no longer dominated the Greek world as it had during the age of Pericles, its silver coinage remained respected and trusted throughout the Mediterranean. The enduring reputation of the Athenian Owl allowed it to continue circulating long after the city's political power had faded.

More than 2,300 years later, these later Owls remain among the most desirable ancient coins, linking collectors to one of the greatest transitions in world history—from the independent Greek city-states to the vast kingdoms of the Hellenistic Age.

Perfect For

• Ancient Greek coin collectors
• Athenian Owl enthusiasts
• Students of Classical and Hellenistic history
• Collectors seeking an iconic ancient coin
• Anyone looking for a centerpiece Greek silver coin

Coin Details

• The exact silver Athenian Owl tetradrachm pictured
• Civilization: Ancient Greece
• City: Athens, Attica
• Century: 4th Century BC
• Date: 350–294 BC
• Denomination: Silver Tetradrachm
• Obverse: Head of Athena
• Reverse: Owl with olive sprig, crescent, and ΑΘΕ
• Weight: 16.9 grams
• Diameter: 22 mm
• Pedigree: Ex Numismatik Naumann Auction 66, Lot 32
• Guaranteed authentic

Continue the Story

The Athenian Owl remained one of the Mediterranean's most trusted silver coins even as the age of the independent Greek city-states gave way to the Hellenistic kingdoms.

Explore our other Greek silver coins to discover how the legacy of Athens continued through the kingdoms of Alexander the Great and the remarkable civilizations that followed.

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