ATTICA. Athens. AV Diobol (1.43 gms), ca. 407/6 B.C.Svoronos-pl. 15#7. Head of Athena facing right wearing crested Attic helmet adorned with palmette and olive leaves; Reverse: Two owls standing confronted, olive branch between, ethnic in exergue. Minor scuffs, though commensurate with the assigned condition. <strong>EXTREMELY RARE</strong>, and one of only six known examples. This is one of only two examples which is not in a museum collection. The Athenian Diobols have two distinct die pairings (easily discerned by the central letters position relative to the olive branch; directly below [Paris and this example] or to the left [Berlin example]). <p>Of the utmost historical importance. As the Peloponnesian War dragged on, Athens found itself facing a monetary crisis. It attempted to rectify this situation by producing its first gold coinage. Around 413 B.C. Athens found herself cut off from its main source of silver at Laurion and after four years the need for additional funds prompted the melting down of seven golden statues of Nike. This action produced fourteen talents of gold, which was minted into six denominations from Staters to Hemiobols. Once the mintage was finished, the dies were hidden away in an alabaster box in the Parthenon to prevent misuse.NGC EF, Strike: 4/5 Surface: 4/5.
