ATTICA. Athens. Circa 479/8-475 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 20 mm, 17.17 g, 12 h). Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with four olive leaves. Rev. AΘE Owl standing right, head facing; to left, crescent and olive sprig with both leaves drooping straight down; all within incuse square. Starr Group I. Very rare. Struck from the usual somewhat worn obverse die, otherwise, good very fine.




This coin is part of the earliest issue from Athens to bear the crescent to the left of the owl, struck in the early years after the repulse of the great Persian invasion of Greece in 480-479 BC.