{"product_id":"ancient-greek-athena-and-the-owl-silver-tetradrachm-circa-450-bc-rare-zero-die-14k-gold-pendant-artifact-4484","title":"Ancient Greek Athena and the Owl Silver Tetradrachm circa 450 BC RARE Zero-Die 14K Gold Pendant | Artifact #4484","description":"\u003ch1\u003eOut of mystery and legend... regal Athena, with her Owl of Wisdom, continues to inspire to this day\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #990000;\"\u003ePlease Note: \u003cstrong\u003eThis is an authentic Ancient Greek Treasure Coin\u003c\/strong\u003e, and you will receive the exact pendant in the photographs and description.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #990000;\"\u003ePendant Size Including Bezel Setting : 1 1\/8” Across, 1 5\/8” Tall A Bit Wider than a U.S. Quarter\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAlmost 3,000 years, and the birth of Western civilization, in the palm of your hand\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerhaps as famed as the Hercules drachms of Alexander the Great, the stunning Athena and the Owl silver tetradrachms of Athens have come to symbolize all that is ancient Greece. Thick and deeply struck, with their classic Greek art in high-relief, it is this coin that is often called to mind when we think of the glory of ancient Greece. Minted in the powerful city state of Athens, Athenian Owls bear the image of the patron goddess of Athens, Athena on one side, and her constant companion, the Owl of Wisdom, on the other.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAthens - glittering jewel of the Greek city states is one of the world's oldest cities, with a fabled history spanning 3,400 years. The most influential center of trade, arts and philosophy of the ancient world, both Plato and Aristotle based their academies in Athens, which is now revered as the birthplace of Western civilization and democracy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMinted for over 500 years, \"Owls,\" as they were called in the Ancient world just like they are today, were the world's first widely known and accepted trade currency. Soon followed by Alexander the Great's drachms and tetra drachms, then the Roman Empire's Denarii, the concept of a world trade coin stretched into the age of exploration with the Spanish Reales, or \"Pieces of Eight\" and the dollar of today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYour Ancient Greek Athenian Owl Tetradrachm Pendant\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDenomination: Tetradrachm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDate: 454 - 404 BC\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoin Metal: Silver\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMint: Attica, Athens\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eObverse (Front): Helmeted head of Athena, goddess of wisdom and war\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReverse (Back): The Owl of Wisdom\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBezel Metal: 14K Gold \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArticulating Nautical Shackle Bail Interior Diameter: Will accommodate chain or leather necklace up to 6.2 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePendant Size including bezel: 1 1\/8” Across, 1 1\/2” Tall - Pendant is a bit wider than a U.S. quarter \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #9f0707;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApril's Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan color=\"#c20b0b\"\u003eStunning and beautiful detail - every feather, and with a clear crescent moon and olive leaves. Virtually uncirculated. \u003cstrong\u003eA coin of this quality ranks in the top 3% of what's available in the world.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #9f0707;\"\u003eThick, luxury weight bezel to compliment the coin's regal look and feel. This is one of the most amazing, high quality coins I have ever had the pleasure to work with. Athenian Tetradrachms of this era are quite substantial - this coin is almost 1\/4\" thick adding to the depth of detail and beauty. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #9f0707;\"\u003eBest of all, it is what we call almost \"zero die axis.\" When these were struck, the Ancient Greeks didn't care if the top of one side of the coin was also the top on the other side - what we call \"Medallic Orientation.\" This coin is one of the rarest - top grade and you can wear it either side out.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the most coveted of any coin ever minted, Athenian Owl Tetradrachms were minted in the classic Greek style of a thick, deeply struck coin – giving Athena and the Owl an almost three dimensional depth, and the coin a subtle dome. They were also some of the first coins ever minted, and are still regarded as one of the most beautiful and symbolic coins ever struck.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFun Facts about Athenian Owls:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAthena, the goddess of both wisdom and war, was the patron goddess of Athens, and while most Owls were minted in this city state, both Athena and the Owl appear on the coins of other Greek city states throughout the ancient western world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat does AEO mean? \"AOE\" is an abbreviation of AOENAION, which means, \"of the Athenians.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeads or Tails? We often say that everything we do every day has a history. Did you know when you grab a coin for a coin flip and shout “Heads or Tails” you are referencing the Athenian Owl? It is this coin that started the tradition – with the “Head” of Athena, and the “Tail” of the Owl. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Presidential Pocket Piece: U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt kept an Athenian Owl in his pocket for luck and protection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eYour Ancient Greek Coin Pendant comes with:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOur 100% Authentic Lifetime Guarantee\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA Detailed, Multi-Page Certificate of Authenticity Researched and Written by April Knecht\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFour page Historic Brief about Greek coins and how they were minted and used, researched and written by April Knecht\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTreasure Hunters Gazette Booklet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMini Museum Display for when you are not wearing your treasure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA Treasure Jewelry Care Card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Cannon Beach Treasure Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50823727743223,"sku":null,"price":5480.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0650\/4193\/files\/4484-Athena-and-the-Owl-Silver-Tetradrachm-Ancient-Greek-Coin-14K-Gold-Pendant-Necklace-01.jpg?v=1780347387","url":"https:\/\/cannonbeachtreasure.com\/products\/ancient-greek-athena-and-the-owl-silver-tetradrachm-circa-450-bc-rare-zero-die-14k-gold-pendant-artifact-4484","provider":"Cannon Beach Treasure Company","version":"1.0","type":"link"}