ISSN 0320-961X (Print)
ISSN - (Online)


the Archaic period

On Athens` Coinage at the End of the Archaic Period (A Historical Context of Transition from Wappenmünzen to “Owls”)

The article deals with the fate of the first Athenian coinage (coins known under the conventional name of Wappenmünzen) at its latest stage, when there took place a transition to coins of principally new type (“head of Athena – owl”, ΑΘΕ), which later became so glorious. The author connects the transition mentioned with the fall of tyranny in 510 BC and dates a little earlier beginning of Wappenmünzen tetradrachms issuing to 514–513 BC, while correlating it with such events as the tyrants Hippias’ clash with aristocrats and hardening of his policies.