From Starr Group V to Classical

425, Lot: 129. Estimate $750. Sold for $1600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (22.5mm, 17.17 g, 9h). Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597. VF, toned. Fine style.

The particular style of the palmette and olive heaves on Athena’s helmet, and the narrow, deep incuse of the reverse suggests that this coin was among the earliest issues in the ubiquitous “frontal eye”/classical tetradrachms of the mid-late 5th century at Athens, as these features closely resemble those found on the preceding issues of Starr Group V.