CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY
![](images/Athens_Tetradrachm_vf_16.jpg "Athens Old-Style \\"Owl\\" Tetradrachm, 449-413 BC, VF")
- Denomination:
- Tetradrachm
- Composition:
- Silver
- Date:
- 449-413 BC
- Obverse:
- Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and floral scroll; her hair is drawn across the forehead in parallel curves.
- Reverse:
- Owl standing right head facing, in erect posture; the tail feathers represented as a single prong; to the right, AΘE, in large, even lettering; to left, olive-twig and crescent; all within incuse square
- Reference:
- sg2526, BMC 11.62
- Size:
- 23mm; 17.3g
- Province:
- Athens
- Grade:
- VF
"Owls" were extremely popular as a central currency of the ancient world and thus the design remained unchanged for quite a long period of time. One of the most well known coins from ancient times from Athens, the centre of the ancient world, it is no surprise that these coins are highly sought after by collectors. During 449-413 B.C a large amount of tetradrachms were minted to meet the financing requirements of extravagant building projects including the Parthenon and also to cover the cost of the very expensive Peloponnesian War. A VF fine example of the classic Ancient Athenian coin. Nice colour and toning.
I, Peter A. Piliouras of Ancient Coin Traders irrevocably guarantee for life to the Purchaser that this ancient coin is authentic. If this coin is deemed not to be authentic by a professional certification service, then I will refund to the Purchaser the full cost of acquiring the coin (including shipping) together with the certification fees.
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Signed: Peter Anthony Piliouras
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Date