Athenian tetradrachm

The Athenian tetradrachm was a silver coin used in ancient Athens, roughly equivalent to four drachmas, during the 5th century BCE. It served as a standard currency for trade, military payments, and official transactions. Notably, its imagery often featured the goddess Athena's head on one side and an owl, her symbol of wisdom, on the other. The coin's rich design and widespread circulation made it a symbol of Athens' economic power and cultural influence, playing a key role in facilitating commerce both within Greece and across the Mediterranean.