Ancient Greece - 440-404 BCE Attica, Athens Owl AR Tetradrachm NGC MS

The Athenian Owl Tetradrachm is the most recognizable ancient coin today. It was the largest silver coin of its time, minted from silver mined at Laurion. In fact, this very coin gave us the expressions of coin's obverse as its "head" and the reverse as the animal's (and coin's) "tail." Such Tetradrachm coins were struck for over 400 years, with the consistent theme of Athena, the goddess of warfare and wisdom, on the obverse, with the owl, her patron animal, on the reverse. This consistency in a numismatic theme served as propaganda, symbolizing Athenian economic and political power.

Athene noctua, the Little Owl, which is upon the reverse of this coin and is still found in Europe and Asia today in the 21st century. Photo: Wikipedia.

The species of owl found on the coin's reverse has been identified as the Athene noctua, the Little Owl, which is native to the Mediterranean sea area. Such creatures stand six to eight inches tall, and weigh between 2.5 and 4.5 ounces. The olive sprig, which refers to Athens' primary export of olive oil, ironically serves as a symbol of peace upon a coin that was used to fund wars. The initials 'AOE' stand for 'AOENAION'--"of the Athenians."