Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-440 BC. Late "transitional"

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-440 BC. Late "transitional" issue. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss, and pearl necklace / Owl standing to right with head facing, olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Cf. Starr pl. XXII; Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1596. 17.15g, 23mm, 1h.



Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare.



According to Chester Starr, as the owl on this tetradrachm is shown with its three tail feathers in a single prong it should be grouped firmly with the "mass coinage" issues of Athenian tetradrachms dated 454-404 BC, but the very lifelike depiction we are given places it very close to the last issues of Starr's Group V.B, struck circa 460-454 BC.