A magnificent, perfectly centred and well provenanced example of one of the most iconic and important coin types from the ancient world. A solid silver ancient Greek tetradrachm from Athens, struck circa 454 - 404 BC.

The obverse depicts the head of Athena (patron to Athens city state) facing right. She wears a crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and a floral scroll. Her hair is drawn across the forehead in parallel curves and she stares out at the viewer through a large, almond shaped frontal eye.

The reverse depicts the emblem of Athens, the little owl. The charming creature standing in an erect posture, head looking directly ahead. Olive sprig and crescent in left field, the legend reading:

AQE - Abbreviated Greek for "Athens".

The Athenian “owl” silver tetradrachm is unquestionably one of the most influential coins of all time. During the fifth century BC, when Athens emerged as the greatest of all Greek cities, owls were the most widely used international coin and helped to spread Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean world.

Of the countless examples that exist on the market, this coin stands out as one of the finest. The crest of Athena's helmet, so often missing, is shown in full here, her lips and sweeping brow are delicately modelled. The reverse is just as impressive, perfectly centred and shown in the finest style.