The history of coinage in Athens is long. They were amongst the first to strike coinage after the new form of transaction made its way from Asia Minor in the early sixth century BC. The first coinage of Athens was called Wappenmünzen and were badges (literal translation of Wappen) of the city with various images such as a gorgon, backside of a horse or a wheel as shown here. After a short-lived period Athens settled on the image of Athena on the obverse and an owl on the reverse. This image remained so throughout the years starting as an archaic, crude Athena and owl and becoming more classical in style in later years. Athens stopped striking coinage as an independent city state after the Romans conquered them in 146 BC under Sulla