Nomos 21

ATTICA. Athens. 500-490 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 25 mm, 17.75 g, 12 h). Archaic head of Athena to right, wearing an Attic helmet with a crest attached by a zig-zag band, and an earring formed with a large central pellet surrounded by a circle of pearls. Rev. AΘE Owl standing to right, head facing; behind, olive sprig with two hollow leaves. Cf. Seltman group M, but a most unusual variety with the Α opposite the owl's neck rather than above its head. Very rare in this state: very well-centered and well-struck, and of a strong, powerful and dramatic Archaic style. Minor marks, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the collection of a Scholar, acquired around 2000.

This is a curiously interesting Athenian tetradrachm. It is struck in a quite exceptional style - Athena's mouth is small and her eye prominent, with a slight opening towards the nose; the owl is stocky, has short legs and its tail feathers and wings are equally long, seemingly reaching below the level of its talons. Also unusual is the arrangement of the legend, ΑΘΕ rather than the usual Α - ΘΕ. Could it be that the engraver who produced these dies was a discrete innovator, who, especially with this reverse, cut a die that was, in some ways, ahead of its time? It certainly was not repeated by his contemporaries.