Greek Coin of ATTICA
Athens. Circa 440-404 BC. AR Silver Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.17 gm, 4h) Mid-mass coinage issue.
Reference: HGC 4, 1597. SNG Copenhagen 31-40. Kroll 8.
Certified: NGC Ch XF 5/5 - 4/5 6833809-053
Obverse: Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet ornamented with three laurel leaves and vine scroll
Reverse: AΘE, owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig with two leaves and one berry, and crescent moon behind, all within incuse square

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Minted in Athens during its heyday as a powerful city-state, these tetradrachms were a staple of trade and commerce throughout the ancient Mediterranean. The period of 440-404 BC corresponds to the height of Athenian power and cultural influence.

The obverse features the iconic portrayal of Athena, the city's patron goddess, wearing her distinctive helmet. The meticulous rendering of Athena's image reflects the artistic achievements of Athenian coinage during this period.

The reverse depicts the owl, symbolizing wisdom and Athena's association with the city. The olive sprig, berry, and crescent moon in the incuse square add symbolic depth, likely representing agricultural abundance and the city's connection to goddess Athena.

In Greek mythology, a little owl (Athene noctua) traditionally represents or accompanies Athena, the virgin goddess of wisdom, or Minerva, her syncretic incarnation in Roman mythology. Because of such association, the bird—often referred to as the "owl of Athena" or the "owl of Minerva"—has been used as a symbol of knowledge, wisdom, perspicacity and erudition throughout the Western world.

The city of Athens seems to have adopted the owl as proof of allegiance to its patron virgin goddess, who, according to a popular etiological myth reproduced on the West pediment of the Parthenon, secured the favor of its citizens by providing them with a more enticing gift than Poseidon.

Owls were commonly reproduced by Athenians in vases, weights and prize amphoras for the Panathenaic Games. The owl of Athena even became the common obverse of the Athenian tetradrachms after 510 BC and according to Philochorus, the Athenian tetradrachm was known as glaux (γλαύξ, little owl) throughout the ancient world and "owl" in present-day numismatics. They were not, however, used exclusively by them to represent Athena and were even used for motivation during battles by other Greek cities, such as in the victory of Agathocles of Syracuse over the Carthaginians in 310 BC—in which owls flying through the ranks were interpreted as Athena's blessing —or in the Battle of Salamis, chronicled in Plutarch's biography of Themistocles.