Both sides of an irregularly shaped silver-gray coin with relief decoration on each side.　
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

On the side of the coin on the left is the head of a woman facing right, wearing an ornate crested helmet, and round earing. The other side of the coin depicts an owl standing facing right with head slightly turned, large eyes staring, wings down by its side; to the left, an olive branch; to the right, the Greek characters: A T H E.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1.1965.1574
Title
Tetradrachm of Athens
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
495 BCE - 480 BCE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Athens (Attica)
Period
Archaic period
Culture
Greek
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/170982

Location

Location
Level 3, Room 3400, Ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Art, Ancient Greece in Black and Orange
View this object's location on our interactive map

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Silver
Metal
AR
Technique
Struck
Dimensions
16.7 g
Die Axis
4
Denomination
tetradrachm
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Reverse Inscription: ATHE

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Robinson Coll.

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
Seltman G ii, 246 (this coin)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Loan from the Trustees of the Arthur Stone Dewing Greek Numismatic Foundation
Object Number
1.1965.1574
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obv.: Helmeted head of Athena r.;
Rev: Owl standing facing with closed wings in incuse square; to l., olive sprig.

Exhibition History

  • 32Q: 3400 Greek, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 11/16/2014 - 01/01/2050

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu