Description
Attica. Athens. Tetradrachm ca. 485-480 BC. Silver 17.52 g.; 21.1 mm.
Obverse: Head of Athena in archaic style, right, wearing crested Attic helmet, decorated with geometric patterns, with the eye facing //
Reverse: Owl standing right, head facing; olive branch to left; all within incuse square. Reverse caption: AΘE
HGC: 4-1591.
Very nice specimen with grey patina on a flan of irregular thickness (from 7 to 4 mm), the strike on the obverse is off-center but one will appreciate the beauty and the engraving of the bewitching eye of Athena in the distinctive style of archaic art. NGC graded XF Strike: 2/5 Surface: 4/5
Comment
Seltman Group Gii, 254–5 var. (A–/P205 [unlisted obv. die]). As it as been recorded in a previous sale of this coin, although the obverse is not in Seltman's die study, it is extremely similar to his A168, which was paired with reverse die P205 (Seltman 255). Thus, the dies were likely engraved by the same hand.
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