Unknown Maker, Greek

The 6th-century Athenian ruler Peisistratus established the Panathenaea, a festival honoring the region’s patron goddess, Athena. At that time, Peisistratus minted what is thought to be the first two-sided coin in the world. Whereas earlier coins had one side in relief and the other “incuse,” or indented, these new coins had two uniquely engraved reliefs. Each featured imagery reflecting the Athenian pride in their city-state, from Athena’s Attic helmet to the sprigs of olive next to the region’s revered bird, with an inscription meaning “of the Athenians.” Variations of this coin type were used for centuries in Athens, and visitors to Greece today will recognize the reverse of this coin as the reverse of the Greek euro.