GREEK COINS
ATTICA
Athens. Circa 430s-420s BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 23mm, 17.19 g 7). Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet adorned with three olive leaves and palmette, round earring and pearl necklace. Rev. ΑΘΕ Owl standing right, head facing; behind, olive spray and crescent moon; all within incuse square. Agora 8c. Svoronos pl. 15, 37 var. A very sharp and well-struck piece. Some traces of die rust on the obverse, otherwise , good extremely fine. From an American collection, formed before 2000. This is an extremely sharply struck example, clearly made from new and unworn dies; albeit the fact that the obverse was allowed to rust after being made but prior to being used. Another interesting technical factor is that the die maker seems to have made a centering mark on the reverse prior to doing his engraving. It appears here at the bottom of the right-hand hasta of the A; it is curious that it was not polished off.