The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 23, 2024

Tetradrachm: Head of Athena (obverse); Owl (reverse)

Tetradrachm: Head of Athena (obverse); Owl (reverse)

449–407 BCE
(Attica)
silver
Diameter: 2.3 cm (7/8 in.)
Gift of J. H. Wade 1916.992
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

The basic design of Athenian tetradrachms is now back in use, on Greek one-Euro coins.

Description

Incorporating the first three letters of the city name—ΑΘΕ—with then-iconic images of the patron goddess Athena and her owl, the Athenian tetradrachm was among the most widely traded and most recognizable coins of the ancient world. The olive leaves on Athena’s helmet and the small crescent moon behind the owl date this coin after the Persian Wars.
  • ?-1916
    Mr. J.H. Wade, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1916-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Stories From Storage. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 7-May 16, 2021).
  • {{cite web|title=Tetradrachm: Head of Athena (obverse); Owl (reverse)|url=false|author=|year=449–407 BCE|access-date=23 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.992