By invitation · Est. MMXXVI

PHOTOGRAPHY: THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, OPEN ACCESS (CC0)

Athenian Tetradrachm · 1 of 1

photography: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Open Access (CC0)

OBJECT PASSPORT · PV-DEF0A · NUMISMATICS

Athenian Tetradrachm

Athens mint · c. 440 BC

The owl that paid for the Parthenon, the fleet and the war that lost both. Twenty-four centuries of pockets have softened the crest but not the stare.

Maker
Athens mint
Period
c. 440 BC
Origin
Athens, Greece
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
24 MM, 17.2 G

Provenance

European trade, with old collection ticket in French

Part of Small Change of Empires

Notes

TM

Tobias Mercer

10 JUNE 2026

The owl has seen things.

Members may leave notes.

From the same collection