A GUIDE to the Tetradrachm

THE STANDARD COIN OF ANTIQUITY

- TIMOTHY M. RYAN

In the late 6th century B.C., the tetradrachm emerged as a large silver coin that became popular among the city-states of Greece. It represented four drachmae, and over time would become known as the standard coin throughout the ancient world. Its large size of roughly 25 mm rendered it a perfect advertising device for rulers of this period and would become widely used even beyond the known borders of the Greek world. It was minted in various quantities, although it's believed that the weight standard derived in Athens of about 17.2 grams was widely accepted as the standard weight throughout the region.

Here's a look at some of the more popular tetradrachms among collectors including examples from Athens, Rhodes, Akragas, Syracuse and Amphipolis.

ATHENS

In the 6th century B.C., Athens began producing one of the first coins in the Greek mainland. Their most recognizable type is the tetradrachm often referred to as the "Athenian Owl," which was first introduced around 510 B.C. Although the style would evolve over time, this coin was issued for over 400 years. It was minted in Athens and carries a number of motifs symbolic of the city. On the obverse is the head of Athena, the patron goddess of Athens. The reverse shows an owl and a sprig of olive. On the right of the owl are the first three letters of Athens in Greek: AOE.

An Athenian tetradrachm can be obtained today for a modest price based on their continuous run and large quantities minted. A quick search of the coin dealers' site Vcoins.com reveals over 300 examples for sale which range from $400 to $4,000 depending on condition.

RHODES