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Denomination: Silver Tetradrachm Date: circa 144 BCE

Description: Athens, Attica, New Style Tetradrachm, ca. 119-118 BC. 16.698 gr, 27.7mm. magistrates Sokrates, Dionysodo- and Aristos. Helmeted head of Athena right, triple-crested helmet decorated with Pegasos right above the raised earpiece, and protomes of horses above the visor / A-ΘE ΣΩKΡ-ATHΣ ΔIONY-ΣOΔΩ AΡIΣ-TΩΣ, owl standing right on overturned amphora on its side; Apollo standing facing in right field, holding the three Graces in right hand, bow in left, flanked by two small dancing figures (or griffins?) at his feet; ΔYMH on amphora, ΣΩ below, all within olive wreath. Thompson 619a.

Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, sprang fully grown and armed from Zeus’ head, and was his favorite child. He entrusted her with his shield that was adorned with the hideous head of Medusa the Gorgon, his buckler, and his principal weapon, the thunderbolt. Always portrayed helmeted, and often with spear and shield, she was one of the most powerful of the deities and was widely worshipped.

Athena was primarily the goddess of Greek cities of industry and the arts, and represents both wisdom and human enterprise. She gave many gifts to man, among those gifts were the olive tree, the art of taming animals, making shoes, building ships and the invention of the plow and flute. The owl, her sacred bird, symbolized wisdom and was adopted as a characteristic element of Athenian coinage.
Among her gifts to man were olives and grapes, the inventions of the plow and the flute, the arts of taming animals, building ships, and making shoes. She was often associated with birds, especially the owl.

Whereas the older style Athenian coinage depicts Athena and her owl as more soft and artistic, here, both appear more solid and strong. These types of coins were the last to be minted in the city Athens when they were an independent city.