Coinage of Ancient Athens (1)

Athens was among the first Greek cities who cut their own coins. The silver mines at Lavrion had ample supplies of silver. The early coins had no inscriptions and bore only emblems.
During the 6th century BC, Athenians struck their new tetradrachm with the head of their patron deity, goddess Athena on the observe and the Owl, the goddess' sacred bird, the bird of wisdom, on the reverse, and the name of the city. This design was not changed for over 400 years.
In the beginning of the second century BC, they created the "new style".

		Silver didrachm, with amphora standing inside a circle and the triskeles, 560 - 545 BC.
		Silver Tetradrachm, with the Owl standing on a olive twig and "ΑΘΕ" in front and Athena wearing an ornamented helmet, 455 - 449 BC.
		Silver Tetradrachm, with the Owl standing on a olive twig, a crescent on the upper left and "ΑΘΕ" in front and Athena wearing an ornamented helmet, 454 - 449 BC.
		Silver Tetradrachm, with the Owl standing on a olive twig, a crescent on the upper left and "ΑΘΕ" in front and Athena wearing an ornamented helmet, 449 - 419 BC.