Athenian owl
BC 454–404 ・ silver ・ 5th century BC ・ Athens
With the wealth of the Laurion silver mines behind it, Athens issued tetradrachms of the goddess Athena and her owl in great quantity. By deliberately keeping the imagery archaic and unchanged, the city protected the trust carried by 'the usual Athenian silver'. The key currency of the ancient Mediterranean.
Diameter 24mm