Economy
Coinage
Technique
Greek coins were usually struck rather than cast.
Dies made of specially hardened bronze or iron were prepared by
engraving the types or designs into a fixed anvil and a portable
punch. Struck by a hammer, the punch compressed the softened metal
blank set between the two countersunk dies to create a two-headed
coin in high raised relief. The anvil side of the coin face is called
the obverse; the punch side the reverse. On rare
occasions the coin engravers, or die-cutters as they are sometimes
known, were allowed to sign their works.
Silver Tetradrachm ca. 449&endash;410 BC Athens
29-126-404
The head of Athena is on the obverse, an owl with olive branch on the
reverse. The goddess (in Greek, Athena) is a punning reference to the
city (in Greek, Athenai) that honored her as its chief protective
deity. The owl was Athena's favorite bird and the olive, which was
one of the city's most lucrative exports, came in time to stand for
Athens throughout the Mediterranean world. Dia. 24.0 mm.
Obverse: Photo courtesy Registrar's Office, Univ. of Pennsylvania
Museum. Reverse: Photo courtesy Donald White. (large
version)
The Ancient Greek World Index