Sale: Nomos 2, Lot: 78. Estimate CHF4000.  Closing Date: Monday, 17 May 2010.  Sold For CHF5500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ATTICA, Athens. Circa 455-449 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 17.11 g 9). Head Athena right, wearing Attic helmet addorned with three olive leaves, sprig with palmette and round earring. Rev. ΑΘΕ Owl standing right, head facing, with triple-pronged tail feathers; behind, olive sprig and crescent; all within incuse square. Starr Group V.B, series 4. Very minor flan crack, otherwise an attractive, compact coin with a splendid owl. Extremely fine.

From the Patrick H. C. Tan Collection, ex Classical Numismatic Group 76, 12 September 2007, 464.

This piece falls at the beginning of the mass issues of tetradrachms struck after the removal of the treasury of the Delian League to Athens in 455, and retains the fine style of those earlier pieces.