Silver tetradrachm

ca. 440–404 BC

Not on view

Athens began to strike silver coinage with the head of Athena, the patron deity of the city, on the obverse and her owl on the reverse at the end of the 6th century B.C. Around the same time, the Athenians also introduced a new denomination, the tetradrachm, a comparatively large coin that could only be used only in high-value transactions. The type and denomination continued to be struck in Athens through the 5th century B.C. with only minor stylistic variations.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Silver tetradrachm
Date: ca. 440–404 BC
Culture: Greek, Attica
Medium: Silver
Dimensions: 15/16 in. (24 mm)
Classification: Coins
Credit Line: Bequest of Nanette B. Kelekian, 2020
Object Number: 2021.40.80
Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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