It is a representation of a Little Owl, also known as the Owl of Athena (Athene noctua). The other side of the old coin has a representation of Athena's face.

Athena is the goddess of wisdom, hence owls being thought of as wise.

Athena is the patron goddess of the city-state of Athens. Historians debate if the city was named after her or she was named after the city.

[–] gigachad@sh.itjust.works 21 points 10 months ago (1 children)

That super cool. I have that coin in my collection but never knew about its background

[–] waigl@lemmy.world 17 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The Euro coin or the millennia-old tetradrachm?

[–] gigachad@sh.itjust.works 16 points 10 months ago

The Euro coin haha

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 11 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

by the same motif

--> with the image

The madlads must like coin, coz they printed a coin on a coin. They left the outline and everything.

[–] BowtiesAreCool@lemmy.world 9 points 10 months ago

TIL the Euro coin has one common side, and a national side that is unique the country it’s in.

[–] qyron@sopuli.xyz 7 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I have one of these in my collection!

[–] drasglaf@sh.itjust.works 2 points 10 months ago

A certain revision of it is very expensive AFAIK.

[–] badbytes@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

That is so cool.

[–] JacksonLamb@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

Very awesome.

[–] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 3 points 10 months ago

It's weird that they were also making modern Greek 1 Euro coins back then. Still very neat :)

[–] ininewcrow@lemmy.ca 2 points 10 months ago

A time traveling Greek from the ancient past would feel right at home.

[–] janus2@lemmy.zip 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Was wondering why I recognized this because I've never gotten into coins, but remembered this was in a point and click puzzle Flash game series I love!

https://submachine.fandom.com/wiki/Ancient_coin