Ancient Greece - 355-334 BCE Troas, Sigeion Æ13 NGC Choice XF

From the Faces in Time Collection of Ancient coinage (07).

TROAS, Sigeion. 4th-3rd centuries BC. AE 13. Strike: 5/5. Surface: 4/5. Obverse: Head of Athena facing slightly right (3/4), wearing triple-crested Attic helmet, disc earrings, and necklace. Reverse: Owl standing right, head facing; crescent moon behind owl in left field, ΣIΓE is right of owl.

Ancient buildings excavated at Sigeion, where this offering from AUCM was struck.

According to Head and J.P. Six, Athena/Owl coins such as this offering from AUCM were produced during the second half of the 4th century BC when Sigeon was controlled by the Athenian general Chares. Along with an army of mercenaries, Chares had come to the assistance of the satrap Artabazes in 355 BC. Chares decided to make Sigeon his home base when his responsibilities did not take him elsewhere. Plus when he retired from public life in 355 BC he remained in Sigeon for the rest of his life. Upon the arrival of Alexander III in Sigeon, Chares presented a gold crown to his old enemy as a gesture of thanks for his having pardoned him at the request of the Athenians.