View reverse
of coin
Tetradrachm. Obverse: Athena
490 B.C.
Athens, Attica
Silver
Diameter - 23 mm; weight - 16.87 g
Athena was without doubt the most highly venerated goddess
in the Ancient Greek world. She gave mortals a large number of useful
inventions. This wise goddess was the protectress of cities, a saviour
and adviser. But Athena did not spurn handwork either: she invented
spinning and weaving and was herself a skilled spinner and embroiderer.
With such virtues, the goddess was simply bound to appear on coins,
because every city wanted to place such an important matter as the minting
of coins under the guardianship of such a powerful deity.
We have here one of the most famous coins of the Ancient
World - a tetradrachm from Athens, the city to which the goddess extended
her particular protection. This coin was noted for the precision of
its weight and was so widely popular that it can be considered the international
currency of its day. On the obverse of the coin we can see the head
of Athena wearing an Attic helmet. This was not so much a war helmet
as parade wear: it rose to a crest and was decorated with depictions
of olive branches and leaves, as well as figures of various animals.
The goddess has richly decorated earrings and a necklace around her
neck.
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