Lot 3438

Description

Attica, Athens, (c.406 B.C.), plated silver tetradrachm, (13.842 grams), obv. head of Athena to right wearing ivy crested helmet, eye facing, rev. owl standing to right, head facing, in erect posture, olive twig and cresent behind, to right, **AQ[E], together with silver drachm, (4.180 grams), (449-430 B.C.), rev. similar in incuse square, (S.2527 (£125), 2535 (£350), MC 74 and 61). First nearly extremely fine/extremely fine; very fine. (2)

In 407/6 the value currency of Athens had become gold in place of unobtainable silver. In the following year the state struck bronze coinage for the first time and for tetradrachms these bronze tetradrachms seem to have been plated with a thin skin of silver. They were also described by Aristophanes (Frogs 717ff).