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Tetradrachm of Athens Silver, 2.5 cm, Greek, 475–465 BC J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles The tetradrachm featuring Athena and the owl is one of Ancient Greece's most recognisable coins, symbolising the wealth and power of Athens during its Classical period. Known as Athenian 'owls', these coins were first minted in the early 510s BC and remained in production for over four centuries. While the Athena-owl imagery remained consistent, the style evolved over time. On the obverse, the coin depicts the head of Athena, the city’s patron deity, wearing a crested Attic helmet adorned with three olive leaves above the visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl. This portrayal highlights her role as the goddess of wisdom and strategy, reflecting her identity as a symbol of intellect and military strength. She has an archaic smile and an almond-shaped eye, typical of this type of coin. The reverse of the coin features an owl, symbolising wisdom and serving as a sacred emblem of Athena. Its head is tilted, and the owl is accompanied by a two-leafed olive sprig, representing the city’s prosperity and its legendary connection to the olive tree. Beside this is a crescent, possibly symbolising Athena's connection to celestial power. At the bottom right is the inscription ΑΘΕ, short for 'ΑΘΗΝΑΙΩΝ', which translates to 'of the Athenians'. These tetradrachms were widely circulated and played a crucial role in trade and commerce throughout the ancient Mediterranean, highlighting Athens’ economic and cultural influence. This particular specimen was found in a hoard of items in 1967 on the Jordanian-Syrian border in the region of Hauran, near the ancient city of Bostra.  
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