Greek coin collecting can be a fascinating hobby. The earliest Greek coins came into existence before the middle of the 5th century. The term Archaic is used to describe them. They are characterized by their thickness, and by the simple punch mark on the reverse side of the coin. The images on Archaic coins depicted sacred animals, such as lions and bulls. These coins have very little writing, usually just the city where they were issued.

Around 525 B.C. a coin which bore the head of the Athena, the patron goddess of Athens, became popular. The opposite of the coin displayed an owl, which signifies Athena as the patron of wisdom. The patron god or a Greek city-state often adorned that state's coins.

The portrayal of the patron ruler and civic symbols on coins continued until the Hellenistic Age. Alexander the Great had his image depicted in the likeness of his hero-god, Hercules. After Alexander's death, his empire was divided amongst his generals. With the dawning of the Hellenistic era, coins depicted the head of state on one side with the civic symbol on the other.

This pattern of coin design is still seen in modern coins. The American penny has a profile of Abraham Lincoln on one side and an image of the White House on the reverse. On Canadian coins, the portrait of Queen Elizabeth is paired with a civic symbol or animal on the back.