Greek coin Athens b.C.

In this particular coin, an owl or Glaucidium is depicted together with an olive branch. Greece is considered the historical home of the olive tree. According to Greek mythology, the first cultivated olive tree was offered to the city of Athens by Athena who later became the goddess protector of the city. At the Panathenae Games and the Olympic Games the prize for the winner was a crown made out of an olive branch. The owl is the sacred bird of ancient Athens.It was the symbol of wisdom and prudence because as a night creature it has exceptional vision even in complete darkness hence the natural  ability to see where other creature not capable. The name Glaucidium was given because as Athena’s holy bird it took one of her nicknames glaucopis thanks to her sparkling blue eyes (from the Classical Greek glaukos wich means bright blue or bluish gray).