How can I begin to discuss Athens, where so much of ancient history was centered? Indeed, in school we studied it as the birthplace of democracy, though they would not have identified with our form of democracy any more than we would have theirs.
From a coinage perspective, they’re easily most well known for their famed owls.
AR Tetradrachm 22.5mm, 17.18g, 1h
Circa 454-404 BCE
Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597
Ex CNG inventory June 2004
Ex CNG January 2021
Indeed, this is the most famous ancient coin of all. It’s the only one actively sought by people who don’t identify as ancient coin collectors and the type used to be rare until a massive cache of tens of thousands was dug up in Turkey. So huge was this hoard that they’re sitll making their way to market in numerous auctions.
By the time Philip II and Alexander the Great came onto the scene, Athens was a shell of what they had been. Since losing the Peloponnesian War, the city gradually fell into decline on the world stage. The coin below was minted roughly during Alexander the Great‘s time. When he became king, they initially rebelled, but then surrendered after his annihilation of Thebes.
circa 340-322 BCE
Æ 14 mm, 2,19 g
Obv: Head of Athena r., wearing Attic helmet.
Rev: OE. Double-bodied owl stg. on Eleusis ring; in each upper corner, olive spray
Sv. 22.37; Kroll 43c
After his death, they revolted again in the Lamian War and would nearly have beaten Antipater were it not for some bad luck. Not long after that, they strongly backed Demetrios Poliorketes in his quest to win over the other diadochi. They even let him live in the Acropolis and held an edition of the Mysteries just for him. Over time, their opinion of him dimmed.
circa 307-300 BCE
Æ 15 mm, 3,91 g
Obv: Head of Athena r., wear Corinthian helmet with crests and, on visor, snake ornament
Rev: HO- Owl standing, facing; all in olive wreath.
Sv. 22.85-88; Kroll 50b
The coin below was minted roughly during the time of Antigonos II Gonatas, when Athens again reverted to mostly a puppet of Macedon.
ca. 270 – 261 BCE
Ae 13.5mm, 2.9gms
Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right
Rev: A – OE; Owl standing right with head facing, poppy in right field
Ref: Walker Period I, 58
322/17-307 BCE
Ae 3.2g, 12h
Obv.: Helmeted head of Athena right within dotted border.
Rev.: Two owl confronted, heads facing, on thunderbolt, all within wreath. AΘΕ below.
REf.: Kroll 46, HGC 4, 1726
In 2023, I had the opportunity to visit Athens. Here are some of my photos from the stay.
