Description:
This rare bronze coin was minted during the 2nd to 1st century BC in the city of Ilion, located in the Greek region of Troas, which is in present-day northwestern Turkey. Ilion was founded by Greek colonists in the 7th century BC on the site of ancient Troy, the historic city where the Trojan War was fought and the setting for Homer’s Iliad. The city's defenses included the reused citadel wall that was originally built around 1,400 BC. Ilion was famous for its temple of Athena, which was visited by Alexander the Great. The Romans attached particular importance to the city as they honored Troy as their ancestral home.
This ancient bronze coin from Ilion features Athena wearing a crested Athenian helmet. In Greek mythology, she was the favorite child of Zeus and was born full-grown and armored from his forehead. Athena became the goddess of wisdom, peace, warfare, strategy and reason. Her gifts to man were the inventions of the plow and the flute, the arts of taming animals, building ships along with making shoes. Athena was a central, pro-Greek figure in the Trojan War, driving the conflict's outcome to destroy Troy after Paris did not select her as the fairest goddess. She supported heroes like Achilles and Odysseus, notably inspiring the Trojan Horse plan to finally breach Troy's walls.
The reverse side of this coin shows Athena walking to the right while holding a spear and a staff with a grain ear shown to the right; all within an olive wreath.
