Athens Tetradrachm

If there is one coin that represents the splendor of classical Greece, it is the Athens tetradrachm. This reproduction has been made from an authentic specimen and reproduces one of the most famous Greek coins of antiquity, with the goddess Athena on the obverse and the emblematic Athenian owl on the reverse. An essential piece for collectors, historical reenactors, and numismatics lovers.

Features

• Coin: Tetradrachm
• Original period: Classical Greece (5th century BC)
• Mint: Athens
• Material: Zamak (alloy of zinc, aluminum, magnesium, and copper)

What does this coin represent?

• Athena: goddess of wisdom and protector of Athens.
• Owl: symbol of knowledge and vigilance.
• Olive: prosperity and wealth of Attica.
• ΑΘΕ: abbreviation of the name of Athens.

The coin that conquered the Mediterranean

The enormous silver reserves from the Laurion mines allowed Athens to mint millions of tetradrachms during the 5th century BC. As a result, this coin ended up circulating throughout the Mediterranean and became one of the great references in ancient trade.

Its prestige was such that centuries later Alexander the Great adopted the same monetary standard for his emissions, followed subsequently by numerous Hellenistic kingdoms.

When Rome expanded its dominion eastward, it found a world where the tetradrachm was still a widely known and accepted coin. While the Roman denarius dominated the West, the tetradrachm continued to be one of the main monetary references in many eastern provinces, reflecting the enormous economic and cultural influence that Athens had achieved centuries earlier.