ATTICA. Athens. Circa 545-525/15 BC. Obol (Silver, 8 mm, 0.69 g), from the so-called Wappenmünzen series. Scarab beetle. Rev. Diagonally divided quadripartite incuse square. HGC 4, 1649. Seltman pl. IV, μ. Svoronos pl. I, 39-40. Very rare. Lightly toned. Some minor marks. Good very fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions, ex Hess-Leu 31, 6 December 1966, 317 and from the collection of G. Philipsen, 28 May 1906, 948.

The earliest coins of Athens are the so-called Wappenmünzen, or coins with armorial bearings. They were so termed by German scholars who viewed the changing obverse types as being arms of the more important Athenian families. An intriguing idea but a wrong one: all the types, which were issued under the Peisistratids, relate to the Panathenaic festival, referring to the games themselves, the sacrifices and offerings, or to the goddess herself.