Attica, Athens, Silver New Style Tetradrachm, 140/139 BC, Head of Athena, Owl standing on amphora

• Attica, Athens 
  
• Date: Circa 140/139 BC 
  
• Denomination: Silver Tetradrachm "New Style" coinage. 
  
• Dimensions: 33.65mm, 15.93gr
  
• Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos right, wearing richly ornamented triple-crested helmet adorned with pegasus and foreparts of horses. 
  
• Reverse: Owl standing right, head facing, on prostate amphora; right, A-ΘE in upper field, magistrates' monograms on either side, control-symbol aphlaston in field to right, all within olive wreath.
  
• Notes: BMC 303; Thompson 8; Svoronos, Monnaies, pl. 33, 22; HGC 4, 1602.
  Good very fine.
  Struck on a very large flan and very well centered with a nice old cabinet tone.
  FT-1029
  David R. Sear Certificate: 498CO/CY/CE
  

An aphlaston was a high-standing ornament,found on the stern of ancient Greek and Roman ships. It is  often described as resembling a plume of bird's feather. It could also be decorated with a shield at its base and a flag pole on its side.
While primarily ornamental, it also had a symbolic function. It represented the ship's identity and its owner's power, and its prominence on ships made it a prize that could be taken as a trophy. It was also sometimes believed to have magical or protective powers.