The tetradrachm was one of the most important and widely used coins in ancient Greece, especially during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. It was worth four drachmas (hence the name tetra meaning “four” and drachma meaning “a handful” or “a unit of currency”) and was typically made of silver. The tetradrachm served as a standard currency for large transactions, trade, and payments in many Greek city-states and later across the Hellenistic world, following the conquests of Alexander the Great.

The history of the tetradrachm begins in the 5th century BCE, with its first notable issue being minted by the Athenians. During this time, Athens was at the height of its power, and the Athenian tetradrachm became one of the most recognizable and widely circulated coins in the Mediterranean. The obverse of the coin typically featured the goddess Athena, the city’s patron deity, with the reverse displaying an owl, which symbolized wisdom and was closely associated with the city-state. The Athenian tetradrachm became a symbol of Athenian wealth and influence and was used as a primary currency throughout the Greek world, as well as in areas under Athenian control or influence, such as the Aegean islands and parts of Asia Minor.

Following Alexander the Great’s campaigns in the 4th century BCE, the tetradrachm became a key coin in the Hellenistic kingdoms. Alexander’s successors, known as the Diadochi, continued to mint tetradrachms with their own distinctive designs. For example, the coins of the Seleucid Empire, Ptolemaic Egypt, and the Antigonid dynasty all featured images of their respective rulers, gods, or symbols. The tetradrachm served as both a means of currency and a tool for political propaganda, as rulers often used coins to communicate their power and divine favor.