Obverse: Helmeted Head of Athena Parthenos
Reverse: Owl Standing on an Amphora
Surrounded by an Olive Wreath
The glories of ancient Athens are well known.
From the ubiquitous photographs of the
Parthenon high upon the Acropolis overlooking
the city to the writings of Plato and Socrates,
ancient Athens has permeated our modern lives.
In fact, many foundations of our modern world
have their roots in Athens, the birthplace of
democracy and philosophy. Athens was a city of
orators, whose convincing arguments would sway
the voting populace, made up of male citizens, to
change argument into policy. Perhaps Athens is
so important because it gave a voice to the
individual; that is, if you were qualified to speak.
The transfer of power from the elite to the
masses, a social phenomenon that first
flourished in Athens, would revolutionize the
governing structures of the world for the next
two thousand years. In a way, we are all
Athenians. Just looking at architecture of our
nation’s capital proves the lasting impact this
ancient city continues to have today.
How many hands have touched a coin in your
pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the
coin traversed on its journey into our
possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull
out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of
who might have touched the coin before us, or
where the coin will venture to after it leaves our
hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of
the state that struck them, of a specific time and
location, whether contemporary currencies or
artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning
hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of
craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that
is often lacking in contemporary machine-made
currencies. The helmeted head of Athena, warrior
Goddess of wisdom, graces the obverse of this
coin. She was the mythic protector of Athens and
the source of the city’s name. Her attribute was
the owl, depicted on the reverse of the coin, an
animal also associated with wisdom, perhaps
through its relation with the Goddess. This
magnificent coin is a memorial to the ancient
glories of Athens passed down from the hands of
civilization to civilization, from generation to
generation.
- (C.4224)
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