ATTICA. Athens. 363-359 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 10 mm, 1.20 g, 1 h), struck by Timotheos, Athenian general. Helmeted head of Athena to left. Rev. Owl standing facing on barley grain; two pellets (mark of value) flanking; all within hanging olive branches. E.S.G. Robinson & M.J. Price, "An Emergeny Coinage of Timotheos" in NC 1967, 1. Kroll 35. Svoronos pl. 22, 93–6. Extremely rare and of great historical interest. Fine.


Timotheos was the general of an Athenian expeditionary force that besieged Olynthos on the Chalkidiki in 362 BC. We know from written sources that at some point, Timotheos ran out of money to pay his troops, whereupon he issued small bronze coins which were to be redeemed in silver at a later point. These 'war tokens' are of extreme rarity today.