Athenian Owl Modern Coins

It's no wonder that modern Greek coins pay tribute to ancient Greek coins, including the most famous, the Owl tetradrachm.

Modern Greek 1912 ten lepta (4.1g).

This is the first modern Greek coin to pay tribute to the ancient Owl, 19 centuries after the last Owl was struck. The obverse of this coin, which was minted with the hole in the middle, depicts a crown and the inscription "Kingdom of Greece." The reverse depicts an owl standing on an amphora, which harkens back to the ancient New Style tetradrachms. This coin is made of .980 nickel. A five lepta coin features the same design.

Modern Greek 1973 two drachmas (6.1g).

The obverse of this coin depicts a phoenix, a bird first described in Egyptian mythology that lived in the desert for 500 years and then consumed itself by fire, later to rise renewed from its ashes. The modern Greeks regarded the phoenix as being symbolic of Greece's rise to statehood after domination by the Ottoman Turks for nearly 400 years. The obverse inscription translates into "Greek Democracy." The reverse depicts an owl from the ancient Classical tetradrachms along with the inscription "2 drachmas." This coin is made of aluminum and brass. A one drachma coin features the same design.

Modern Greek 2002 one euro (7.5g).

This coin depicts on the obverse a Classical Owl tetradrachm surrounded by 12 stars representing 12 euro countries. The reverse, which is common to all one euro coins, depicts a map of Europe and 12 stars. The outer part of the coin consists of nickel-brass, while the inner part is made up of three layers -- copper-nickel, nickel, and copper-nickel.

Athenian Owls

Owl Fourrees

Owl Imitations

Owl Forgeries

Owl Replicas

Owl Medals

Owl Coins

Owl Paper

Owl Figurines

Owl References

Note: All of the coins illustrated on these pages that are in my possession are stored off site.

		It's no wonder that modern Greek coins pay tribute to ancient Greek coins, including the most famous, the Owl tetradrachm.


		*Modern Greek 1912 ten lepta* (4.1g). This is the first modern Greek coin to pay tribute to the ancient Owl, 19 centuries after the last Owl was struck. The obverse of this coin, which was minted with the hole in the middle, depicts a crown and the inscription "Kingdom of Greece." The reverse depicts an owl standing on an amphora, which harkens back to the ancient New Style tetradrachms. This coin is made of .980 nickel. A five lepta coin features the same design.


		*Modern Greek 1973 two drachmas* (6.1g). The obverse of this coin depicts a phoenix, a bird first described in Egyptian mythology that lived in the desert for 500 years and then consumed itself by fire, later to rise renewed from its ashes. The modern Greeks regarded the phoenix as being symbolic of Greece's rise to statehood after domination by the Ottoman Turks for nearly 400 years. The obverse inscription translates into "Greek Democracy." The reverse depicts an owl from the ancient Classical tetradrachms along with the inscription "2 drachmas." This coin is made of aluminum and brass. A one drachma coin features the same design.


		*Modern Greek 2002 one euro* (7.5g). This coin depicts on the obverse a Classical Owl tetradrachm surrounded by 12 stars representing 12 euro countries. The reverse, which is common to all one euro coins, depicts a map of Europe and 12 stars. The outer part of the coin consists of nickel-brass, while the inner part is made up of three layers -- copper-nickel, nickel, and copper-nickel.

Modern Owl Coins