Tetradrachm from Roman Athens

An Athenian coin with Athena’s profile on the front and an owl and eagle on the back, as well as the text A KAΛΛIKPA ΘE EΠIΓENH ΣOΣANΔPOΣ, i.e. the names of the archons at the time (Callicrates, Epigenes and Sosandros). The new style of the coin’s back face can be dated to the time of the Roman conquest. Athenian coins had remained the same for a long time, but just as Macedonian coins went through change when Macedonia was under the protection of Rome, so did Athenian coins as the Roman influence increased in Athens.

One of the changes was the eagle added to the back face. It can be interpreted in different ways. The eagle was a symbol of Zeus, with which he was often depicted all over Greece, on coins and other arts. Since Zeus was Athena’s father, it is possible that the eagle is a reference to this family connection in this case. But the eagle was also a symbol of war for the Roman army. Therefore, it is possible that the addition of the eagle to the coin after the Roman conquest of Athens symbolises the presence of the Romans in the city. However, the Romans do not seem to have interfered with the Athens system of government, even though, in principle, it was part of the Roman Empire, but classified it as a free city. For example, the names of the archons were still Greek. Whatever the reason for the change, Athenian coins changed at the same time as the influence of the Romans increased on Greek territory.