ATHENS SILVER TETRADRACHM – ARCHAIC PERIOD ISSUE PRIOR TO PERSIAN WARS EX M&M 1975 – CHOICE VF NGC GRADED GREEK ATTICA COIN (Inv. 16787)

$4,000.00

FPL VI, 27 (16787). ATTICA. ATHENS. Ca. 510/500-480 BC.
Silver tetradrachm, 17.09 g, 21 mm. Archaic period issue.
Obv. Archaic head of Athena to right, wearing crested helmet decorated with chevron and dot pattern. Rev. ΑΘΕ, owl standing to right, head facing, olive sprig in left field, all within incuse square.
Seltman, Group Gi, 171 var. (seemingly unrecorded obverse coupled with reverse 132).
Ex Vilmar Numismatics FLP II (Winter 2021), no. 32 = Davissons 11, 6/23/1999, lot 73 = Auctiones AG 27, 12/10/1996, lot 255 = Münzen und Medaillen AG FPL 579 (September 1994), no. 14 = Münzen und Medaillen AG FPL 392 (August 1977), no. 14 = Münzen und Medaillen AG FPL 371 (September 1975), no. 1.
NGC graded CHOICE VF, Strike 3/5, Surface 2/5, “smoothing,” M&M 371 provenance noted on label, glossy dark gray patina with violet highlights.

Already under the Peisistratid tyrants of the mid-sixth century BC, Athens had begun to systematically mine Mount Laurion for its silver and to use it to produce coins. This exploitation of Laurion’s mineral wealth continued after the overthrow of the tyrants and the institution of democracy in ca. 510 BC. When a rich new silver vein was discovered in 483/2 BC, it was proposed that the coins struck from it be divided among the Athenian citizens, but Themistocles instead insisted that the silver be used to finance the construction of a fleet of 300 triremes. Although the ships were initially intended for use against neighboring Aegina, they ultimately served to save the Athenians from destruction and defeat by the Persian navy at the Battle of Salamis in 480. Coins such as this and the following piece were spent to build the Athenian fleet and therefore had their own small role to play in one of the most significant turning points in the history of Athens and of the western world.